Plan Summary
What is Plan Summary?
While Intent Preview shows WHAT the agent will do, Plan Summary explains WHY and HOW. When an agent breaks a complex goal into subtasks, users need to understand the agent's reasoning - not just its intended actions. This is especially critical for knowledge work where there are multiple valid approaches. 'Research competitor pricing' could mean scraping websites, reading analyst reports, or checking public databases - the strategy matters as much as the outcome. The Plan Summary provides goal interpretation, strategy explanation, a subtask checklist that updates in real-time, explicit assumptions the user can correct, and resource and time estimates. This pattern extends explainability from retrospective ('here's why I gave this answer') to prospective ('here's why I'm taking this approach').
Problem
While Intent Preview shows what the agent will do, users also need to understand why and how. When an agent breaks a complex goal into subtasks, users can't evaluate whether the approach is sound without seeing the reasoning and assumptions behind the plan.
Solution
Provide a structured plan summary with goal interpretation, strategy explanation, a subtask checklist with real-time progress, explicit editable assumptions, and resource/time estimates. Keep it concise by default with full reasoning available on expansion.
Real-World Examples
Implementation
AI Design Prompt
Guidelines & Considerations
Implementation Guidelines
Keep the plan summary concise by default - full reasoning available on expansion. Most users want the 3-line version, not the 30-line version.
Surface assumptions as interactive elements - users should be able to correct assumptions before execution begins.
Update the plan in real-time during execution. Show completed steps, current step, and remaining steps with a progress indicator.
When the agent deviates from the original plan due to unexpected findings, highlight the deviation and explain why.
Allow users to save good plans as templates for future similar tasks.
Include a goal interpretation section so users can verify the agent understood their request correctly before work begins.
Show resource and time estimates upfront to set expectations for complex multi-step operations.
Design Considerations
Plan modification rate: how often users change the approach before execution indicates plan quality
Plan deviation rate: how often the agent needs to deviate from the stated plan during execution
Assumption correction rate: how often users correct stated assumptions indicates the right things are being surfaced
Balancing plan detail with readability - too much detail overwhelms, too little fails to build confidence
Real-time plan updates must be non-disruptive - the user should see progress without being interrupted
Templates from saved plans must handle variation in new tasks without forcing rigid adherence
Plans for knowledge work are inherently uncertain - communicate this without undermining trust
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Plan Summary?
While Intent Preview shows WHAT the agent will do, Plan Summary explains WHY and HOW. When an agent breaks a complex goal into subtasks, users need to understand the agent's reasoning - not just its intended actions. This is especially critical for knowledge work where there are multiple valid approaches. 'Research competitor pricing' could mean scraping websites, reading analyst reports, or checking public databases - the strategy matters as much as the outcome. The Plan Summary provides goal interpretation, strategy explanation, a subtask checklist that updates in real-time, explicit assumptions the user can correct, and resource and time estimates. This pattern extends explainability from retrospective ('here's why I gave this answer') to prospective ('here's why I'm taking this approach').
When should I use Plan Summary?
Provide a structured plan summary with goal interpretation, strategy explanation, a subtask checklist with real-time progress, explicit editable assumptions, and resource/time estimates. Keep it concise by default with full reasoning available on expansion.
What problem does Plan Summary solve?
While Intent Preview shows what the agent will do, users also need to understand why and how. When an agent breaks a complex goal into subtasks, users can't evaluate whether the approach is sound without seeing the reasoning and assumptions behind the plan.
Check if your product already has this pattern
Upload a screenshot. We'll tell you which of the 36 patterns your AI interface uses and where the gaps are.
More in Trustworthy & Reliable AI
Explainable AI (XAI)
Make AI decisions understandable via visualizations, explanations, and transparent reasoning.
Responsible AI Design
Prioritize fairness, transparency, and accountability throughout AI lifecycle.
Error Recovery & Graceful Degradation
Fail gracefully with clear recovery paths when things go wrong.
