How to Determine the Core Function Scope of an AI Agent

Determining an AI agent's core function scope involves defining the specific, essential tasks it performs to deliver primary value to its users, deliberately excluding non-essential capabilities to maintain focus and effectiveness. It establishes clear boundaries for development and deployment.

Identify the most critical user problems or needs the agent must solve. Prioritize depth over breadth, ensuring each core function delivers significant utility within the agent's intended domain. Consider technical feasibility and resource constraints realistically. Clearly articulate limitations to manage user expectations and prevent scope creep, which can dilute performance. The agent’s purpose and target audience guide this prioritization.

Start by thoroughly researching user needs and pain points. Map core workflows where the agent delivers the highest impact. Prioritize potential features based on user value, technical feasibility, and alignment with strategic goals. Define specific success metrics for each core function. Finally, rigorously exclude functionalities that fall outside this defined scope, ensuring development effort is concentrated on high-value, achievable capabilities.