How would you choose and describe tools for an AI agent?

Builds a small, task-relevant, typed toolset with clear semantics rather than exposing an entire internal API surface.

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2CompareCompare with Core answer

3RefineRefine with Stronger and Advanced

TL;DR

I expose only the tools needed for the current task and give each one a precise name, purpose, input schema, output contract, and failure behavior. Tools represent meaningful application operations instead of generic database, shell, or HTTP access. The model receives enough description to choose correctly without learning hidden implementation details.

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Practice focus

Tool curation, agent-computer interface design, schemas, discoverability, and context cost.

Answer first

Answer path

Core answer first, then checkpoints toward a stronger answer.

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Core answer
Start here. This is the direct spoken answer to practice first.
Overview
A larger tool catalog can make selection worse while consuming context and expanding risk.
I expose only the tools needed for the current task and give each one a precise name, purpose, input schema, output contract, and failure behavior. Tools represent meaningful application operations instead of generic database, shell, or HTTP access. The model receives enough description to choose correctly without learning hidden implementation details.
Checkpoint
Stronger answer
Optional upgrade with examples, trade-offs, and sharper phrasing.
I separate lookup tools from state-changing tools, avoid overlapping names, use enums and bounded fields where possible, and return concise structured results. Tool descriptions state when not to use the tool and which prerequisites apply. Selection tests include ambiguous requests, unavailable data, and similarly named tools. If the catalog is large, trusted routing narrows the eligible set before the model sees it.

Review signals

Use these to catch weak phrasing, shallow reasoning, and risky claims.

Common mistakesCandidateCommon mistakesMistakes that weaken the answer or signal shallow understanding.Open details

Details

Exposing a generic execute-any-query tool.
Registering every available tool for every request.
Writing vague descriptions with overlapping purposes.

How would you choose and describe tools for an AI agent?

Practice focus

Answer path

Overview

Review signals

Follow-up prompts

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