Ask Questions If Underspecified

What it does

This skill instructs AI agents to pause execution and ask clarifying questions when user requests lack sufficient detail. It prevents the agent from making assumptions or generating vague responses, ensuring outputs are tailored to specific needs before proceeding with tasks.

When to use it

• When a user provides a high-level goal but omits critical constraints like budget, timeline, or target audience.
• During complex planning phases where missing variables could lead to incorrect strategy formulation.
• When the input is ambiguous, such as "write an email" without specifying the recipient or purpose.
• To avoid hallucinating context in creative writing or coding tasks where requirements are not fully defined.

Key capabilities

• Detects underspecified prompts and identifies missing information blocks.
• Formulates targeted questions to gather necessary context before acting.
• Halts task execution until the user provides adequate clarification.
• Maintains conversation flow by politely requesting details rather than guessing.

Example prompts

• "Act as a project manager, but first ask me all the questions you need to create a realistic roadmap for this new software launch."
• "Before writing the code for my login page, clarify the authentication method and security requirements I should implement."
• "I want to draft a marketing plan; please list the specific details about my product and competitors that you need from me first."

Tips & gotchas

Ensure your initial prompt explicitly activates this behavior if the agent defaults to answering immediately. This skill is most effective when paired with iterative workflows where accuracy matters more than speed.