Brief an AI agent before it starts
A compact briefing method that gives an agent the outcome, boundaries, and proof of done.
Use when
- Use this before delegating a bounded piece of work to an AI agent.
The failure
The agent starts activity without understanding the outcome, boundaries, or proof of completion.
The outcome
The agent can state the requested result, its boundaries, and how completion will be checked.
The Practice — 3 rules
State the outcome
Tell the agent what must be true when the work is finished.
Why This prevents activity from being mistaken for completion.
Name the boundaries
State what the agent may change and what must remain untouched.
Why This prevents useful work from becoming an unbounded rewrite.
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.