A missing model-spec detail: when an agent should stop, ask, or hand control back
niloofar_mire · x · 2026-07-24
The thread argues that an important missing piece in model specs is a clear characterization of when a model or agent should give up, or ask for more information/authorization, instead of continuing blindly.
The reply pushes the point further: if frontier labs do not have enough RL environments where an agent gets partway through a task, discovers missing information, and has to stop and ask, that could explain a lot of real-world bugs. The underlying issue is not just capability, but knowing when the model should pause, escalate, or hand control back.
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