RFC: Output for New Task

rfcs/2024-02-11-output-for-new-task.md

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+# Output for New Task
+
+| Feature name  | Output for New Task                                                      |
+| :------------ | :----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| **Author(s)** | Nicholas Albion ([email protected])                                      |
+| **RFC PR:**   | [102](https://github.com/AI-Engineer-Foundation/agent-protocol/pull/102) |
+| **Updated**   | 2024-02-11                                                               |
+
+## Summary
+
+`POST /ap/v1/agent/task` should allow an `output`
+
+## Motivation
+
+I struggle to understand how people would be using `POST /ap/v1/agent/task`, which accepts an optional (!!) `input` but allows for no `output`. Can you imagine calling somebody on the phone and the person at the other end picks up, but doesn't say anything? You generally _want_ to hear "Hi, thanks for calling XYZ, if you're calling about ..." - or atleast "Hello..."
+
+An agent could:
+
+- _Ignore_ (or just log) the `task.input` and provide a generic welcome/instructional prompt.
+- Use an LLM to process `task.input` and select a specialist agent to handle the task/steps, and provide a welcome prompt from the specialist agent
+- Provide a rejection message explaining why subsequent requests will not be accepted
+- The client might use the `task.output` as a title for the task?
+
+## Agent Builders Benefit
+
+Agents would be able to provide a welcome message, guiding the user on what to say first.
+
+This allows for greater flexibility & more options:
+
+<table>
+  <tr>
+    <th>task.input</th><th>task.ouput</th><th>comments</th>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+    <td>Write the word 'Washington' to a .txt file"</td>
+    <td>undefined</td>
+    <td>AutoGPT logs `task.input`.<br/>User initiates conversation in `POST /agent/task/id/step`</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+    <td>Write the word 'Washington' to a .txt file"</td>
+    <td>"Sorry, I'm unable to write to files"</td>
+    <td>Agent responds to `task.input`<br/>maybe sets `"is_last": true`?</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+    <td>undefined</td>
+    <td>"Hi, welcome to XYZ bank, can we start with your account number?"</td>
+    <td>Agent initiates with welcome prompt</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+    <td>undefined</td>
+    <td>undefined</td>
+    <td>User initiates conversation in `POST /agent/task/id/step`</td>
+  </tr>
+</table>
+
+## Design Proposal
+
+### Alternatives Considered
+
+- Remove `task.input` if the Agent can not respond with `task.output`.
+
+### Compatibility
+
+AutoGPT seems to be sending the same `message` to `createTask()` and `sendChatMessage()` in [chat_view.dart#L126](https://github.com/Significant-Gravitas/AutoGPT/blob/fe0923ba6c9abb42ac4df79da580e8a4391e0418/frontend/lib/views/chat/chat_view.dart#L126):
+
+```dart
+                  if (widget.viewModel.currentTaskId != null) {
+...
+                  } else {
+                    String newTaskId = await taskViewModel.createTask(message);
+                    widget.viewModel.setCurrentTaskId(newTaskId);
+                    widget.viewModel.sendChatMessage(
+                        (message == "") ? null : message,
+```
+
+In [ForgeAgent](https://github.com/Significant-Gravitas/AutoGPT/blob/master/autogpts/forge/forge/agent.py#L79C15-L79C26) they suggest that in `create_task` you might _just log_ the `task.input`.
+
+```python
+   async def create_task(self, task_request: TaskRequestBody) -> Task:
+        """
+        The agent protocol, which is the core of the Forge, works by creating a task and then
+        executing steps for that task. This method is called when the agent is asked to create
+        a task.
+
+        We are hooking into function to add a custom log message. Though you can do anything you
+        want here.
+        """
+        task = await super().create_task(task_request)
+        LOG.info(
+            f"📦 Task created: {task.task_id} input: {task.input[:40]}{'...' if len(task.input) > 40 else ''}"
+        )
+        return task
+```
+
+## Questions and Discussion Topics
+
+Add open questions or options you require feedback on from the community.