Ask about consequential uncertainty
A question is useful when two plausible interpretations lead to different deliverables, audiences, access levels, or external actions. The agent should identify the specific decision and offer concise options rather than asking you to restate the whole request.
It should pause before irreversible actions or actions affecting others when target, scope, or timing is unclear. For research or draft work, it can often continue independent tasks while leaving the dependent action pending.
Keep low-impact choices moving
For a reversible heading, local wording, or obvious file location, the agent can use a reasonable default and disclose it in the result. This avoids interrupting you over choices that do not affect the requested outcome.
A good clarification is narrow and timely: ask before the uncertain choice becomes expensive to undo, then resume once answered. If no answer is available, record the assumption and its impact instead of presenting a guess as confirmed intent.