In an age of artificial intelligence, automation, and lightning-fast decision-making, it's tempting to think that traditional controls like the Four Eyes Principle might be obsolete. But the truth is, in 2025, this principle is more relevant and more powerful than ever.
In the fast-paced world of electronics R&D, where the smallest design flaw can lead to million-dollar recalls or compliance failures, this principle continues to stand tall.
I know of an incident at a popular electronics firm. They had just finished developing a beautifully engineered power module for industrial automation systems. The hardware was solid. Every component was selected with care. It passed FCC, CE, and ISO 61000-6-2 testing on the first try.
The engineering team celebrated. The product was ready. Manufacturing kicked off with a small batch production of 500 pieces. But a week before the first sale, a distributor flagged something odd during a third party inspection.
“Where’s the CE marking?”
Turns out, the compliance labels were never added to the final product artwork. They’d been marked as "TBD" during the last mechanical review... and somehow, nobody followed up. Everyone thought someone else had it covered.
The Four Eyes Principle.
The Four Eyes Principle in electronics R&D means that important decisions such as schematic edits, layout changes, part selections, and compliance checks must be reviewed by another qualified engineer.
This approach helps catch mistakes early, improves design quality, supports regulatory compliance, and strengthens team accountability.
Let’s explore 5 real world incidents from the past 100 years where Fortune 500 founders or CEOs have referenced, implemented, or exemplified the Four Eyes Principle whether explicitly or in spirit through public statements, interviews, or critical decision making moments.
1. Steve Jobs
Once Said "Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people."
2. Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg
At Facebook, CEO Zuckerberg deliberately paired himself with an experienced COO, Sheryl Sandberg, creating a de facto two person leadership team.
3. Page, Brin, and Schmidt’s Triumvirate
In Google’s early years, founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin resisted the idea of one person calling all the shots. In 2001 they brought in veteran Eric Schmidt as CEO, forming a unique triad leadership
The Four Dots That We Live by.
A minimum of four points or pillars of verification or four foundational checks that uphold the integrity of what we build. Each engineer brings two eyes, representing focused, accountable review. Together, two qualified people create the Four Eyes.
It’s a structural philosophy we live by that represents minimum of 4 pillars holding up the roof.
As interconnected devices think, adapt, and act autonomously, even a single unchecked decision can scale into systemic failure. Hardware, firmware, and compliance errors don't just affect units, they ripple through networks, applications, and lives.
That’s why the Four Eyes Principle isn't just a legacy practice, it's a futureproof necessity. This is also the Demand that is fueling AIoT development today,.
There, data, behavior, and edge intelligence converge. Each engineering decision must stand up to more than technical scrutiny, it must pass the test of accountability, ethical responsibility, and operational resilience too.
To explore the potential of AIoT, read this article featuring a compelling case study on how AIoT is enabling blind individuals around the world to see >>>.