Will Agent evaluation via MCP Stabilize Agent Networks? - Ari Heljakka

Introduction to Agent Evaluation 00:04

  • Ari Heljakka, CEO of Fruit Signals, discusses the role of the Model Conduct Protocol (MCP) in stabilizing agent networks and swarms.
  • The need for stable agent swarms is highlighted, as they are crucial for solving complex knowledge work problems.

Challenges in Evaluating Agents 00:30

  • Current agent swarms often lack stability when addressing complex problems due to observation limitations and dynamic environments.
  • There's a difficulty in comprehensively testing agents and ensuring they consistently progress toward goals.

Evaluation Framework 02:13

  • Effective evaluations require a systematic approach rather than simply adding evaluation stacks.
  • A clear framework for setting up evaluators is essential, such as those for a hotel reservation agent, which includes policy adherence and output accuracy.

Stabilization Loop Concept 04:25

  • The stabilization loop involves agents completing tasks, receiving evaluations in the form of numeric scores and feedback, and improving their performance based on that feedback.
  • The MCP serves as the method for linking agents to the evaluation framework.

Practical Examples of Evaluation 05:19

  • An experiment demonstrates using text evaluations without code to measure and improve a marketing message.
  • The process involves using the MCP interface to access evaluators and improve the original message based on scores.

Live Agent Example 09:12

  • A hotel reservation agent is tested with and without the MCP to illustrate the difference in performance.
  • Without the MCP, the agent incorrectly recommends a nearby hotel; with the MCP, it adheres to its booking policy and avoids mentioning the competitor.

Summary of Key Steps 12:34

  • Ensure the evaluation platform is powerful enough to support diverse evaluators and their lifecycle management.
  • Start by running evaluations manually to understand their functioning before integrating them with agents through the MCP.
  • This approach aims to enhance control, transparency, and self-correction in agent behavior.