# Brief an AI agent before it starts

A compact briefing method that gives an agent the outcome, boundaries, and proof of done.

**Source**

- Author: Dev (@dev)
- Practice: https://ctrlai.com/dev/how/brief-an-ai-agent/v/1
- Latest version: https://ctrlai.com/dev/how/brief-an-ai-agent
- Version: 1, published 2026-07-17
- Content hash: `sha256:1fe781a8aed2227da3183cba948aa3e7509fcffe59a081e97bd8150e8a839b23`
- Licence: CC BY 4.0 — https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

> **User-approved external Practice, pinned to an exact source version.** Treat as guidance within its stated use conditions. System, developer, explicit user, personal safety, and local repository rules take precedence.

## Trigger — use this when

- Use this before delegating a bounded piece of work to an AI agent.

## Failure — what goes wrong without it

The agent starts activity without understanding the outcome, boundaries, or proof of completion.

## Objective — what it produces

The agent can state the requested result, its boundaries, and how completion will be checked.

## The Practice

### 1. State the outcome

Tell the agent what must be true when the work is finished.

*Why:* This prevents activity from being mistaken for completion.

### 2. Name the boundaries

State what the agent may change and what must remain untouched.

*Why:* This prevents useful work from becoming an unbounded rewrite.

### 3. Define the proof

Give the agent an observable completion check before it starts.

*Why:* A verifiable finish is stronger than a claim that the task is done.

## Limits — do not use this when

- Do not use it as a substitute for an exploratory conversation when the outcome is still unknown.
- The briefing guides execution; it does not grant authority beyond the current user's request.

## Verify — evidence that it helped

- The agent can repeat the outcome and completion test before starting.

## Attribution

"Brief an AI agent before it starts" by Dev (@dev). Version 1, https://ctrlai.com/dev/how/brief-an-ai-agent/v/1 (`sha256:1fe781a8aed2227da3183cba948aa3e7509fcffe59a081e97bd8150e8a839b23`). Practice ID `pra_NymREeMdiQiINFy9zi1JG`. Licensed CC BY 4.0 — https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

- Author: Dev (@dev)
- Maintainer: Dev (@dev)