What we mean by an agent under the hood

By v/hOctober 18, 2026Document

The complicated decisions should happen inside the product.

For v/h, an agent under the hood means a local model connected to the device's inputs and tools. It can interpret the task, act through those tools, and check what happened.

The owner should have a clear way to start the job and understand the result. They shouldn't need to choose a model, write a prompt, or troubleshoot the agent's reasoning.

The agent also has to justify the cost and complexity it adds. We would look for a better result, less effort from the owner, or the ability to handle ordinary variation that a simpler mechanism cannot.

The document below explains the product principle we're building around.

What would a device need to show you before you'd trust it to finish a task?

The document · 5 pagesDownload PDF ↗

What we mean by an agent under the hood. Page 1 of 5. Our approach An agent under the hood. What we want the device to handle so you can get on with your day. A product principle, explained. vh.do — Page 1 of 5

Read the remaining 4 pages

What we mean by an agent under the hood. Page 2 of 5. In your hands A clear action. A useful result. Start the job Know the outcome The controls should relate to the task. The result should be understandable. Simple controls and clear feedback. vh.do — Page 2 of 5

What we mean by an agent under the hood. Page 3 of 5. Inside the device Understand. Act. Check. A local model uses the device's inputs to interpret the task. Its tools let it act. Feedback lets it check the result and adjust when conditions change. The software needs a way to do the work. vh.do — Page 3 of 5

What we mean by an agent under the hood. Page 4 of 5. The reason to use an agent It has to earn its place. A better result The job is completed more successfully. Less effort The owner has less work to do. More useful capability The device handles ordinary variation. A simpler mechanism may already do the job. vh.do — Page 4 of 5

What we mean by an agent under the hood. Page 5 of 5. The experience we're designing Intelligence inside. Simplicity outside. A useful core function that works locally. An understandable way to start and finish. An object you can depend on. Our first utility is in development. vh.do — Page 5 of 5

Keep reading

Easy to use and useful to many people