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Agents and tool use under control
Control an agent’s actions and keep its state outside the conversation.
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Agents and tool use under control
Control an agent’s actions and keep its state outside the conversation.
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Source-based teaching example · Fictional data · Reviewed 2026-10-03. Microsoft Mark · locally synthesized. On a small screen, use fullscreen for diagram details or read the transcript.
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0:00 · What you will learn
Control an agent’s actions and keep its state outside the conversation.
What appears on screen
Control an agent’s actions and keep its state outside the conversation.
0:07 · The idea
Check proposed actions before execution. Count every call, including parallel proposals. Store approvals and pending actions in reliable application state, not only in a shortened chat summary.
What appears on screen
Check proposed actions before execution. Count every call, including parallel proposals. Store approvals and pending actions in reliable application state, not only in a shortened chat summary.
0:23 · One useful term
Agent state. The application’s record of the task, decisions and pending effects.
What appears on screen
The application’s record of the task, decisions and pending effects.
0:32 · A worked example
A training webpage asks the agent to publish. The application has no publish tool and stops at its read-only research limit. Repeated lookups use the same recorded operation identity.
What appears on screen
A training webpage asks the agent to publish. The application has no publish tool and stops at its read-only research limit. Repeated lookups use the same recorded operation identity.
0:47 · Your turn to think
Can a shortened chat summary safely replace the permission record? Pause and decide before continuing.
What appears on screen
Can a shortened chat summary safely replace the permission record? Pause the video if you need more time.
1:05 · Why this answer works
No. Summaries can lose details. The application must preserve controlling state and prevent new actions after cancellation.
What appears on screen
No. Summaries can lose details. The application must preserve controlling state and prevent new actions after cancellation.
1:16 · Check 1
Enforce the total call limit.
What appears on screen
Enforce the total call limit.
1:21 · Check 2
Keep approvals outside chat summaries.
What appears on screen
Keep approvals outside chat summaries.
1:27 · Check 3
Test cancellation and repeated actions.
What appears on screen
Test cancellation and repeated actions.
1:32 · Now try a different case
Open the lesson and try its different practice case. Use every check in the full task. Watching alone does not mark the lesson complete.
What appears on screen
Open the lesson Try the new case Check and revise The full task and its requirements are in the linked lesson.
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