Action-taking AI agents need a stricter checklist
Action-taking AI agents are different from chatbots because they can affect accounts, apps, browsers, and workflows. A good demo is not enough.
The buying rule: evaluate what the agent is allowed to do, how it asks for approval, and how it recovers when a step fails.
Comparison frame
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Permissions | Limits what the agent can touch |
| Audit trail | Helps humans understand what happened |
| Recovery | Determines whether failed tasks are fixable |
| Cost limits | Prevents agent experiments from becoming expensive |
FAQ
Should agents run without approval?
Only for low-risk workflows. For sensitive actions, human approval should remain part of the process.