A synthesis-only civic research agent is given 18 tools including web search and starts mis-calling search. What distribution fix is best?
Select an answer to reveal the explanation.
Short Explanation
A synthesis agent with a junk drawer of 18 tools will grab web search for fun. Trim to the tools that match the role so selection stays sane.
Full Explanation
A synthesis-only civic research agent given 18 tools including web search will often mis-call search because tool-count overload degrades selection quality. The best distribution fix is to scope the agent to role-relevant synthesis and verify tools, removing search and other unrelated capabilities from its tool set so the synthesizer cannot wander.
Role-scoped tool sets work because synthesis agents should operate on provided findings, not wander into open-web retrieval. Fewer, purpose-aligned tools raise the odds the model picks verify or synthesize instead of opportunistic search that pollutes municipal research outputs with unvetted sources.
Adding more unrelated tools to increase selection entropy worsens overload and makes correct picks rarer. Keeping all 18 tools and removing all descriptions strips the remaining selection signal. Forcing web search on every synthesis turn regardless of need guarantees irrelevant retrieval and fights the synthesis-only role.
Exam caveat: put search on a dedicated research/gather subagent if needed; do not stuff it into the synthesizer. Operational check: with findings already in context, confirm the scoped agent never selects web search and only uses synthesis/verify tools.