For most of recorded history, business ran on a simple loop: humans processed the work, and humans validated it. Every invoice, every underwriting decision, every compliance check—a person did it, and another person approved it. The entire rhythm of the enterprise was metered by how fast people could think, read and decide. That loop is gone. And it is never coming back. Somewhere today, a loan officer is reviewing a credit decision she didn’t make. A compliance analyst is scanning an audit his