Apple Generate Daily Briefing

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint and idempotentHint, so the safety profile is covered. The description adds useful context about what the briefing aggregates, but it does not disclose additional behavioral traits such as side effects, permission needs, or output characteristics. No contradiction with annotations.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

A single front-loaded sentence that states the action, scope, and key inputs without filler. Every word contributes meaning.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

The output schema and read-only/idempotent annotations reduce the need for return-value and side-effect explanation. However, the missing parameter semantics and lack of sibling-selection guidance leave an agent to guess about mail filtering behavior and when this tool is preferred over the weekly briefing.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 0%, so the description needed to explain mail_limit and mail_query, but it only references 'Mail highlights' as a source. The parameter names and defaults provide some hint, but this is not enough to compensate for the complete lack of schema and description detail.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description states a specific action and resource: 'Generate a daily Apple briefing', and names the data sources ('today's context, domain health, and Mail highlights'). It distinguishes from apple_generate_weekly_briefing through the word 'daily', though it does not explicitly name the sibling.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

No guidance is given about when to use this tool vs alternatives like apple_generate_weekly_briefing, apple_overview, or apple_triage_communications_task. The word 'daily' implies a cadence, but there are no explicit conditions, exclusions, or decision criteria.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.