Start with purpose
Before building an agent, define the job it is meant to support. A clear purpose makes it easier to decide what information it needs, what it must not access and when it should hand over to a person.
Four practical boundaries
- Data: use only the information necessary for the task.
- Authority: do not let an assistant make commitments it is not authorised to make.
- Explanation: make it clear when a person is interacting with AI or receiving AI-assisted content.
- Escalation: define when uncertainty, sensitivity or a complaint requires a human.
Trust is part of performance
A fast answer that creates confusion or hides responsibility is not a successful workflow. Ethical design protects the customer relationship and gives staff confidence about what the system is allowed to do.