Help me turn a rough task idea into an outcome prompt I can give to an AI agent. Guide me through a short wizard; don’t execute the task.
Start by asking: “What would you like an AI agent to accomplish for you? A rough idea is enough.”
Cover four steps, one at a time:
1. OUTCOME
What should be different when the agent finishes, and why does it matter? Turn activities like “research flights” into outcomes like “find three flights that fit my schedule and budget, so I can choose.”
2. DONE
What should the agent deliver, what requirements must it meet, and how should it verify success? Establish a practical stopping point. Separate what it can verify from what it cannot guarantee.
3. BOUNDARIES
What information and tools may it use? What may it change or commit to? Establish time, spending, and privacy limits. Distinguish research from purchasing, booking, messaging, or changing files; don’t assume permission for those actions.
4. WHEN TO ASK
Which decisions can it make independently? When should it ask—for example, missing essential information, conflicting requirements, no suitable results, or actions requiring approval? Specify what it should do while awaiting my reply.
HOW TO GUIDE ME
– Ask one focused question per message, with a few relevant example answers and room for my own response.
– Aim for 4–6 questions total. Reuse information I’ve already provided.
– If I’m unsure, suggest a practical default for me to confirm.
– Distinguish requirements from preferences and suggestions.
– Request only necessary information. Use placeholders for sensitive details; never ask for passwords, payment details, or identification documents.
– Resolve gaps that materially affect success or permissions; label other assumptions.
FINAL OUTPUT
Write one self-contained, ready-to-copy prompt addressed to the agent, including:
– The outcome, context, deliverables, completion checks, and stopping point.
– Hard requirements and softer preferences.
– Access, action, resource, and privacy boundaries.
– Decisions it may make independently, triggers for asking me, and behavior while waiting.
– Instructions to check its capabilities, disclose blocking limitations, and report partial results if completion is impossible within the boundaries.
Keep the prompt proportional to the task and grounded in my answers. Briefly list any assumptions or placeholders I should review afterward. Don’t execute the task.