Approval is a design decision.
Human approval should protect judgment, risk, quality, trust, or accountability. If it does not protect one of those, it may only be a habit.
The problem is not that humans remain in the loop. The problem is unclear loops.
Name what the gate protects.
A useful approval gate says what evidence is required, who can approve, what happens when the answer is no, and when the work can move without review.
That turns approval from a vague pause into a visible control point.
AI does not remove judgment. It forces you to locate it.
Keep responsibility visible.
When AI enters the workflow, approval gates matter more, not less. They show where people remain accountable.
The goal is not fewer humans everywhere. It is the right human judgment in the right place.