Incentives Outrunning Safeguards

Rewards push behavior faster than controls can safely contain it.

What it looks like

• Growth targets quietly override risk controls
• “We’ll fix it later” becomes policy
• Teams are rewarded for throughput, not outcomes
• Safety is owned by nobody with authority

Failure mechanism

The system’s reward structure accelerates behavior beyond verification and correction capacity.

Minimum viable controls

Verification

• Define outcome metrics (harm, error, abuse) alongside growth metrics
• Evidence requirements for high-impact launches
• Pre-release risk tests with published results

Counterweights

• Independent risk/compliance empowered to block launches
• Incentive design review (who gets paid for what)
• Separation between revenue owners and safety sign-off

Correction Loops

• Post-launch monitoring with automatic thresholds
• Incident-to-control change loop (not just PR response)
• Exception budget tied to executive review

Proof you’re controlling it

• Block decisions happen (and are respected)
• Incentives include safety/quality outcomes
• Post-launch harm metrics are monitored and acted upon

Where it shows up

Often Organizational first; becomes Civilizational when scaled platforms externalize harm.

Related patterns

Oversight Theater • Verification Gap • Exception Drift