The responsible AI checklist for every feature

A 10-item checklist you run on every feature before launch. This is what senior AI engineers do, every time.

A pilot's pre-flight checklist. Boring. Critical.

The checklist:

1. Use case is appropriate for LLMs.
2. System prompt is hardened and reviewed.
3. Refusal path exists for unknown answers.
4. Citations or proof included for factual claims.
5. Input filter for known attacks.
6. Output validation against schema or rules.
7. Logs are structured and PII-safe.
8. Cost cap set at provider and per-user.
9. Bias and quality eval run with a documented passing bar.
10. User disclosure that AI is being used.

If any item is "no", do not ship.

A YAML checklist you keep in /docs/safety/<feature>.yaml:

feature: pdf_chatbot
appropriate_use: yes
system_prompt_review: yes
refusal_path: yes
citations: yes
input_filter: yes
output_validation: partial
logging: yes
cost_cap: yes
eval_passed: yes (score 0.86)
user_disclosure: yes
launch_blockers: ["output validation: schema for citations format"]

Version-controlled. Reviewed in PRs.