AuctraRuntime evaluation & policy
Evaluating structured agent intent at scale
Normalize tool calls into action schemas so policy, audit, and approvals stay consistent across models, LangChain, MCP, and custom Auctra integrations.
May 14, 2026 · 8 min read · Markdown version
Why structure matters
Different models phrase tool calls differently; your authority layer needs a canonical action representation. Map framework-specific payloads to Auctra action types at the integration boundary.
Structured intent enables cross-agent analytics: total refund volume by sponsor, block reasons by policy rule. Unstructured logs cannot support those queries reliably.
Schema design tips
Use stable actionType strings, ISO currency codes, and explicit target identifiers. Optional metadata bags hold context that should not drive policy logic.
Version schemas when action semantics change and record versions in audit for backward compatibility. Document breaking changes in SDK release notes.
Framework mappings
LangChain tool invocations map cleanly to evaluateAction before the tool executor runs. MCP servers should call evaluateAction inside tool handlers for consequential tools only.
See the langchain-mcp-authority-integration guide for end-to-end examples. Keep read-only tools outside the authority path to preserve latency.
Validation failures
Reject malformed payloads at the SDK client before network round trips when possible. Return validation errors to the agent loop so the model can correct inputs.
Auctra ties sponsors, expiring delegations, and pre-action evaluation into one accountability chain your security and finance teams can audit.
Key takeaways
- Authority is enforced before side effects — use Human intents and evaluateAction together.
- Every production agent needs a named sponsor and bounded delegation visible in the console.
- Blocked and approval-required outcomes are evidence, not failures — review them in Human intents.
Implementation checklist
- Sign up at console.auctra.tech and open Human intents (/console/intents).
- Register one agent with a named human sponsor accountable for its actions.
- Create a narrow delegation aligned with this article's workflow (Evaluating structured agent intent at scale).
- Call evaluateAction from your agent or SDK before the consequential tool executes.
- Confirm sponsor, delegator, decision, and outcome appear in Audit or Human intents.
People also ask
- What is structured agent intent?
- A normalized description of a proposed consequential action with typed fields for policy evaluation and audit.
- How does Auctra validate intent payloads?
- The API validates required fields and types; clients can pre-validate using TypeScript types from @auctra/sdk.
- How does Auctra help with agent authority?
- Auctra registers sponsors, issues expiring delegations, evaluates actions before execution, and preserves auditable accountability records.
Try in Auctra Console
Maps to: Human intents
Pilot runtime intent in Auctra Console
Use Human intents to apply this guide — register an agent, delegate authority, evaluate one real action, and inspect the audit trail. Free on Builder.
- Create a free account: https://console.auctra.tech/auth/signup?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=cta&utm_campaign=evaluating-structured-agent-intent
- In Human intents (https://console.auctra.tech/console/intents), run a free Builder pilot for one production workflow.
- Issue a bounded delegation with limits and expiration matching this guide.
- Integrate evaluateAction (SDK or REST) before money, data, or infrastructure changes execute.
- Open Audit to verify sponsor, delegator, reviewer, and decision are recorded.
Part of guide
Runtime evaluation & policy
Pre-action gates, policy engines, approval routing, and the difference between observing agents and governing side effects.
Browse full guide →Related guides
Make authority executable.
Evaluate agent actions against bounded, expiring delegation before they reach the real world. Start free on Builder — upgrade when audit retention and accountability matter.