A 5-part test to decide if a task should become an AI agent
Meris-Dabhi · reddit · 2026-08-15
Sharing a 5-part test used to determine if a task is suitable for becoming an AI agent:
- Repeated trigger: The same kind of task shows up over and over.
- Stable inputs: Information comes in pretty much the same shape every time.
- Clear tools: There is a defined set of things it can actually go do.
- Measurable finish line: You can tell when it's done and whether it worked.
- Judgment in the middle: This is the key differentiator. Each run requires a real decision made in the moment.
The author notes that the first four criteria just check if a task can be automated at all, but the fifth—judgment—is what actually makes it an agent rather than simple automation.
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