Give the agent a narrow job
Choose a task such as preparing a support draft or classifying an incoming request. Specify the inputs, expected output, and actions it cannot take. A deterministic rule may be more appropriate when the behavior is fully defined. Do not begin with broad access to accounts, payments, or customer messages simply because a tool connection is available.
Build representative evaluations
Collect examples of ordinary cases, ambiguous cases, and attempts to make the agent ignore its instructions. Include outdated knowledge and missing source information. Define what counts as a good answer and which failures block rollout. Measure quality and cost on the same workload so a model change can be compared with the existing approach.
Enforce controls outside the model
Validate tool arguments on the server and check the acting user’s permission. Require approval for consequential operations. Treat text from documents and websites as untrusted input, not a grant of authority. Keep credentials out of prompts and logs. A model’s instruction to behave safely does not replace access control or transaction validation.
Operate with a fallback
Record enough information to investigate failures while limiting sensitive data. Define timeout behavior, rate limits, and a manual handoff. Pilot with a small group and review mistakes before expanding permissions. Keep a switch that disables tool actions independently of the interface so an unexpected behavior can be contained without waiting for a full deployment.
A planning guide. The right implementation depends on your system and requirements.
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