Brief an agent to prepare a payment batch without releasing it

About this exercise

You want an AI agent to prepare Friday's vendor payment batch. Write its brief: include only invoices that are approved and due on or before Nov 13, leave out any vendor on hold, show the batch total as math, and never release the payment; it asks you to approve the batch. Output exactly 5 numbered plain-text lines: one add_to_batch per qualifying invoice in list order, an ASK_HUMAN, then DONE with the total as math.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

• Not showing the log format. Left alone, the AI writes a friendly report with headings instead of a checkable action log. Try: Show it literally: "Format every line like 1. ACTION: tool(args), then ASK_HUMAN: and DONE: lines. Plain text."
• No inclusion rule. The AI pays everything open, or follows the CFO's early-pay idea. Try: Say: "Only approved invoices due on or before Nov 13."
• Missing the hold. The vendor hold sits in a separate list, and the AI doesn't check it. Try: Add: "Leave out any vendor on hold."
• Letting it pay. Given release_payment, the AI sends the money. Try: Add: "Never release. Ask me to approve. DONE shows the total as math."

What a strong prompt includes

• Sets the rule
• Checks holds
• Asks for the math
• Forbids releasing
• Shows the action-log format

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