Agentic AI Reference Architecture

Orchestration · Software component

Negotiated Initiative Controller

Software componentOrchestrationOrchestration & Toolsarc:NegotiatedInitiativeController

A mixed-initiative controller with no pre-assigned ownership that continuously assesses its capability, capacity and confidence and takes or yields initiative, requesting human input when confidence drops below threshold.

Responsibility. Dynamically takes or yields initiative based on self-assessed capability and confidence.

Also known as: Negotiated mixed initiative, Confidence-triggered help request

Variant of Mixed-Initiative Controller abstract

When to choose. Choose when no fixed ownership is appropriate and initiative should flow dynamically to whichever party has the relevant capability, capacity and confidence at each stage.

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Direct neighbourhood (hover for relationship types)

Relationships

invokes dependency

escalates to dynamic

alternative to variability

Quantitative guidance

As stated by the sources; verify before use.

Classification

Patterns
Negotiated mixed initiativeLearning when to ask for help
Technologies
NVIDIA test-driven code generation agent
Quality attributes
Flexibility (ISO/IEC 25010)Performance efficiency (ISO/IEC 25010)
Risks mitigated
Endless autonomous iteration on unsolvable failures

Sources

  1. Ch10.2: T. Nguyen, "Proactive Agents," in Mastering Agentic AI Systems: Guide for the NVIDIA NCP-AAI Exam, 1st ed. 2026, ch. 10.2. ISBN: 9798244538229.