ASVLabs

Start here / Four short lessons

What an agent needs
before you start.

An agent works better when you make four decisions first. You do not need technical experience—just a real task and a few clear sentences.

  1. 01

    The job

    Choose one clear job.

    What it means: ask for one result that you can name and review. “Help with my business” is too broad; “summarize this week's customer questions” is something both you and the agent can understand.

    Why it matters: a narrow first job makes mistakes easier to notice and improvements easier to measure.

    Example

    Every Friday, summarize repeated questions from the support inbox and draft five answers for me to review.

    You are ready when: you can finish the sentence, “I want the agent to…” with one observable result.

  2. 02

    The standard

    Describe what good work looks like.

    What it means: tell the agent what the result must contain, how it should be organized, and what would make you reject it.

    Why it matters: “make it good” leaves the important choices hidden. A short checklist gives the agent a target and gives you a fair way to review the result.

    Example

    Group questions by topic, quote the original wording, link each source message, mark uncertainty, and do not invent an answer when the policy is unclear.

    You are ready when: another person could use your checklist to decide whether the result passes.

  3. 03

    The facts

    Point to trusted sources.

    What it means: identify the files, accounts, records, or websites the agent should treat as factual—and say what to do when those sources disagree or are missing.

    Why it matters: an agent can write confidently from incomplete or outdated information. Naming the source of truth makes its reasoning checkable.

    Example

    Use the current support inbox and the dated policy folder. If a policy has no date or two versions conflict, stop and show me both instead of choosing one.

    You are ready when: you can name where the facts live and how freshness or conflicts should be handled.

  4. 04

    The limits

    Decide what it must ask before doing.

    What it means: separate reading, preparing, and changing. Be explicit about which actions are allowed and which require you to see the exact target and final content first.

    Why it matters: permission to inspect information is not permission to send, publish, purchase, delete, or change it.

    Example

    The agent may read support messages and draft answers. It may not send, archive, change account settings, or share customer information without my approval.

    You are ready when: the agent's read, draft, and action permissions are written in plain language.

Your first setup

Write these four lines.

  1. Job: I want the agent to…
  2. Good work: The result must…
  3. Trusted facts: Use… and stop if…
  4. Permissions: It may read… draft… and must ask before…

Once these are clear, choose a starting point.

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