Minimum Viable Agent (MVA)
A smallest-possible agent design that validates one core task first with single-input, single-output execution
#minimum viable agent#MVA#agent pilot design
What is a minimum viable agent?
A minimum viable agent (MVA) is an early-stage agent designed to do one core task reliably, instead of bundling many features from day one.
Why start with MVA first?
A narrow scope makes failures easier to diagnose and fix.
It also reduces operational risk by limiting tool integrations and prompt complexity.
Practical adoption criteria
Teams usually start with single-input, single-output execution and one clear success metric.
Only after stable repeatability is confirmed should they expand tools, workflow depth, or autonomy.
Related terms
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Evals (AI Evaluation)
A structured framework for measuring AI agent and model outputs against quantified criteria and detecting regressions
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LLM-as-a-Judge
An evaluation methodology where a capable LLM scores another model's or agent's outputs against a predefined rubric
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Verification Loop
An operational pattern that converges quality by repeatedly testing, reviewing, and retrying AI-generated outputs