Cognition · Data artifact
Risk Attitude Policy
Data artifactCognitionCognition & MemoryVariation point (abstract)arc:RiskAttitudePolicy
An abstract configuration fixing the curvature of a utility function, and hence whether the agent prefers certainty or gambles of equal expected value.
Responsibility. Specifies the agent's attitude toward outcome risk through utility-function shape.
Also known as: Utility curvature, Risk preference
Variants
| Variant | When to choose |
|---|---|
| Risk-Averse Utility Policy | Choose for safety-critical systems, medical treatment, retirement finance and other domains where worst-case outcomes carry severe consequences. |
| Risk-Neutral Utility Policy | Choose only for small-stakes decisions with minimal outcome variance or explicitly risk-neutral domains aggregated across many independent events. |
| Risk-Seeking Utility Policy | Choose for venture-style portfolios, innovation strategies with asymmetric upside, or winner-take-all competitive scenarios. |
Relationships
configures structural
Design guidance
- MUST align the risk attitude with the problem domain and validate that implemented risk behaviour matches stakeholder preferences.
Classification
- Patterns
- Arrow-Pratt risk measures
Sources
- Ch5.10: T. Nguyen, "Utility-Based Decision Making Fundamentals," in Mastering Agentic AI Systems: Guide for the NVIDIA NCP-AAI Exam, 1st ed. 2026, ch. 5.10. ISBN: 9798244538229.