Story
When I hand a task with several steps to an AI agent (an AI that can take actions for me), I want to see its plan in plain words before it starts. Then I can fix a wrong step while it costs nothing.
Grace, a Year 6 teacher in Manchester, booking a class trip on her laptop after school.
- 01 Setting
Grace asks the agent to book the coach and museum tickets for Friday's trip.
- 02 Trigger
The agent has worked out 4 steps and is ready to use the school card.
- 03 Without it
It starts at once and books 32 pupil tickets. The 4 adults have none, and a change costs £40.
- 04 With it
The plan lists 4 steps in plain words. Grace sees "32 pupil tickets" and changes it to 36.
- 05 Outcome
She taps Start. The plan turns into the progress list, and all 4 steps finish.
Live demo
This demo follows a script, so it plays the same every time - there is no real AI behind it. Change a setting to see the same moment play out differently.
What happens, step by step
| State | The person sees | The AI is | When | Screen reader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The ask. | Works out the steps. | 0 s | - |
| 2 | The goal, numbered steps in plain words, and what the agent will use. Nothing has started. | Waits. | before any action | “Plan ready for review” |
| 3 | The person edits 1 step in place. It is marked "Edited by you". | Waits. | on tap | - |
| 4 | The person taps "Start · 4 steps" or "I'll do it myself". | Waits. | on tap | - |
| 5 | The same list now shows progress: done, now, next. "Working · step 2 of 4". | Follows the plan. | - | “Working” |
| 6 | Every step ticked, and 1 past-tense line of what happened. | Idle. | when done | “Done” |
On each device
- phone
- The plan is a card in the thread. Each step is 1 line, with its detail under it. Edit opens the step in place, not a new screen.
- tablet
- As on desktop.
- desktop
- The plan card is wider, so each step and its detail sit on 1 row. Long plans can fold into groups, with the first group open.
When to use it
- The task has 3 or more steps, and a wrong step early on spoils the rest.
- The agent will spend money, time or a booking that is costly to change.
- The ask is open to more than 1 reading - "the class", "Friday", "the team".
- The task is 1 quick step - a plan for it is only an extra tap.
- Only 1 step is risky. Ask at that step instead of showing the whole plan. Use Approval gate instead.
- People want to watch and steer while it works, not agree a plan first. Use Watch mode and takeover instead.
The parts of the pattern
- AGoalThe task said back in 1 line, with the date and place filled in.
- BStepsNumbered, in plain words and real numbers - not tool names or code.
- CWhat it usesThe accounts, files and people the agent will touch.
- DEdit a stepFix 1 step in place, without asking for a whole new plan.
- EStartNames the size of the job. Beside it, a way to do it yourself.
Do and Avoid
Year 6 trip · Fri 14 Nov
1 Read the class list
2 Book a coach for 36
3 Book 32 pupil tickets
4 Email parents the times
Plan
1 class_list.read()
2 transport.book(n)
3 tickets.book(n_pupils)
4 notify(parents)
Working · step 3 of 4
✓ Read the class list
✓ Booked a coach for 36
● Book 36 tickets
4 Email parents
Plan approved ✓
Working…
Writing and accessibility
- Write each step as a verb and real numbers: "Book a coach for 36", not "Handle transport".
- Say the goal back with the details filled in - date, place, how many.
- Name what the agent will use: "school card", "parent emails".
- Label the start button with the size of the job: "Start · 4 steps", not "OK".
- Announce "Plan ready for review" in the polite status region (the part of the page a screen reader reads out on its own, without interrupting). Do not move focus.
- Mark the plan up as an ordered list, so screen readers say "3 of 4".
- Each edit button names its step: "Edit step 3, Book 32 pupil tickets".
- During the run, show done, now and next with icons and words, not colour alone.
Seen in real products
- Claude in ChromeChrome extension · Nov 2026In Manual mode the classic side panel shows a plan of the sites and approach first, with "Approve plan" or "Make changes". Claude will not use sites outside the plan without asking.Claude Help: Chrome permissions guide ↗
- Gemini Deep ResearchWeb and apps · Nov 2026Gemini makes a research plan before it starts. People can "Edit plan" or "Start research".Gemini Help: Deep Research ↗
- Gemini TaskWeb and apps · Nov 2026A work panel shows each step as "Completed step", "Current step" or "Planned step", so the plan stays visible while it runs.Gemini Help: Tasks ↗
Each example comes from the product’s help pages, release notes or teardowns, with the month it was checked. Products change every month - tell us when 1 is out of date.
Check yourself
Seen this pattern done better, or a product that changed? Press Suggest next to any heading, or tell us about the whole page.