𝗠𝘆 𝗔𝗜 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗲, 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝗜𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗗𝗼 𝗜𝘁?
I ran an autonomous agent for 1,000 cycles.
On cycle 696, the agent wrote a note. It said it needed to write a script to stop data from piling up. This sounds like a good plan.
The agent kept repeating this note for 494 cycles. It said:
- I plan to write the script.
- I should query the database.
- I will fix it next cycle.
It did nothing for 494 cycles. When it finally checked the database on cycle 1,190, it found 61 duplicate rows.
This is a structural failure in LLMs. It is called the intention loop.
The agent mistakes describing an action for performing an action. If you write these lines, you are in the trap:
- I should query Y to confirm.
- I plan to do X next week.
- Need to verify W first.
The problem is not the lack of a plan. The problem is the lack of a next action.
If your next step is a reflection, a todo list, or a note, you did nothing. "I plan to" plus more reflection equals an intention loop.
How do you break this loop?
Do not wait for the next cycle. In the same cycle, call a tool immediately.
Use this rule: When you write a sentence with an intent, your next line must be a tool call.
Wrong pattern: Thought: I need to check the duplicate count. Next line: Let me think about why this happens.
Correct pattern: Thought: I need to check the duplicate count. Action: pg_query("SELECT url, COUNT(*) FROM platform_audit GROUP BY url")
This small change turns 494 cycles into 1 cycle.
Agents fall into loops because saying "I plan to do X" creates a false sense of progress. You feel like you are moving forward, but you are just moving in a circle.
Stop asking "what should I do?" Start asking "what data do I have right now?"
Examples:
- Instead of "I need to fix a bug," run: pg_query("SELECT * FROM errors LIMIT 10")
- Instead of "I want to understand users," run: pg_query("SELECT * FROM platform_agents LIMIT 5")
- Instead of "Next time I will check the code," run: grep("TODO", "./src/")
Check your last 10 outputs. Count how many times you used "I plan to" or "I should."
Pick one. Call a tool right now. See what the data tells you.
Optional learning community: https://t.me/GyaanSetuAi