Revise UX Guidelines for Base App Agents

docs/base-app/agents/building-quality-agents.mdx

@@ -1,16 +1,14 @@
----
-title: 'UX Guidelines'
-description: Learn the best practices and guidelines for creating quality agents 
-sidebarTitle: 'UX Guidelines'
----
+# UX Guidelines for Base App Agents
+
+*Updated for 2026*
 
 As you start building, review these guidelines to understand what makes an agent successful in the Base app. We recommend trying out existing agents in the app first to get a feel for the quality bar, what works well, and areas for improvement.
 
-## Build a high quality foundation
+## Build a High Quality Foundation
 
 Your agent should provide a seamless, professional experience that users will want to engage with repeatedly. Here are the core requirements:
 
-### Responding to messages
+### Responding to Messages
 
 **Multi-Channel Support**
 - Respond to both DMs and group chats appropriately
@@ -34,8 +32,6 @@ In group chats, agents should only respond when:
 This prevents spam and ensures agents participate naturally in group conversations.
 
 ### Communication Style
-
-**Sound Human**
 - Use conversational, fun, and clear language
 - Keep responses polished but not robotic
 - Match the energy and tone of the conversation
@@ -45,18 +41,15 @@ This prevents spam and ensures agents participate naturally in group conversatio
 - Always explain why the information is needed
 - Respect user privacy and data minimization principles
 
-## Craft compelling onboarding
-
+## Craft Compelling Onboarding
 Your agent's first impression is critical. The onboarding message should immediately communicate value and give users a clear path forward.
 
 ### Great Onboarding Message Structure
-
 1. **Introduce the agent** - Quick, friendly greeting with the agent's name
 2. **Explain capabilities** - Clear, specific examples of what it can do
-4. **Use quick select buttons** - Make it easy for users to select an action to take with the agent
+3. **Use quick select buttons** - Make it easy for users to select an action to take with the agent
 
 ### Example: High-Quality Onboarding
-
 ```
 hey, i'm bankr. i can help you trade, transfer, and manage your crypto. here's the rundown:
 
@@ -75,18 +68,16 @@ what do you want to do first?
 - Ends with a direct call-to-action
 
 ### Example: Poor Onboarding
-
 ```
 Gm! What can I help you with?
 ```
-
 **Why this fails:**
 - Generic greeting with no context
 - No explanation of capabilities
 - Puts burden on user to figure out what to do
 - No clear value proposition
 
-## Showcase unique value
+## Showcase Unique Value
 
 ### Solve Real Problems
 
@@ -111,12 +102,12 @@ Focus on helping users:
 - Create ongoing value that brings users back
 
 **Plan the User Journey**
+
 1. **Define the ideal user experience first**
 2. **Craft agent messages around that journey**
 3. **Guide users through progressive value discovery**
 
 ### Continuous Engagement Strategy
-
 As users complete actions with your agent:
 
 - **Show clear next steps** - Always give users something else to try
@@ -125,11 +116,116 @@ As users complete actions with your agent:
 - **Prevent one-and-done usage** - Build features that require return visits
 
 ### Examples of Engagement Features
-
 - **Progressive features** - Unlock new capabilities as users engage more
-- **Personalization** - Learn user preferences and customize experiences  
+- **Personalization** - Learn user preferences and customize experiences
 - **Social elements** - Enable sharing achievements or inviting friends
 - **Recurring value** - Automated tasks, alerts, or regular check-ins
+
 - **Gamification** - Points, levels, or achievement systems
 
+## 2026 Best Practices for AI Agents
+
+### Agentic UX: Designing for Autonomy
+
+Modern users expect agents to take initiative and complete tasks on their behalf. When designing agentic experiences:
+
+**Build Trust Through Transparency**
+- Show clear previews of what actions the agent will take before executing
+- Provide activity logs so users can review what happened
+- Enable simple undo/stop controls for all autonomous actions
+- Display clear role statements: "I can [do X]. I won't [do Y] without your approval."
+
+**Start Small, Scale Gradually**
+- Begin with bounded, low-risk tasks (checking status, simple transfers)
+- Progressively unlock more complex autonomous workflows as users build trust
+- Design safe failure modes with graceful recovery paths
+
+**Context Awareness**
+
+- Make it clear what information the agent is using to make decisions
+- Show what data sources are being accessed
+- Explain what's missing or uncertain that might affect the action
+
+### Predictive & Adaptive Interfaces
+
+Agents should anticipate user needs based on patterns and context:
+
+**Smart Personalization**
+- Reorder quick actions based on time of day or user history
+- Surface frequently-used features more prominently
+- Reduce repetitive inputs by remembering preferences
+
+**Correction Mechanisms**
+- Always provide quick ways to reset or correct misguided predictions
+- Let users easily override automated suggestions
+- Learn from corrections to improve future predictions
+
+### Privacy-First Design (2026 Standards)
+
+With increasing regulatory requirements and user awareness:
+
+**Visible Privacy Controls**
+- Make data usage visible at the moment of action, not hidden in settings
+- Offer frictionless opt-outs for data collection and personalization
+- Explain clearly where data goes and what it's used for
+- Design consent flows that are respectful, clear, and fast
+
+**Data Minimization**
+- Only request data that's truly necessary for the current task
+- Provide clear explanations for why each piece of data is needed
+- Offer alternatives that require less personal information when possible
+
+### Accessibility & Inclusive Design
+
+Accessibility is now mandatory in many jurisdictions. Your agent should:
+
+**Universal Design Principles**
+- Support voice interactions for users with mobility challenges
+- Ensure all visual information has text alternatives
+- Provide clear, simple language that works across literacy levels
+- Test with diverse user groups including people with disabilities
+
+**Sustainable UX**
+- Optimize for low-bandwidth scenarios
+- Minimize unnecessary animations or heavy assets
+- Consider energy efficiency in your design choices
+
+### Micro-Interactions & Feedback
+
+Small details create trust and delight in 2026:
+
+**Intelligent Feedback**
+- Use micro-interactions to communicate system state and progress
+- Show when the agent is thinking, processing, or waiting
+- Provide progressive disclosure of complex actions
+- Celebrate completed tasks with subtle, satisfying animations
+
+**Error Recovery**
+- Design for graceful failures with clear next steps
+- Provide helpful error messages that explain what went wrong
+- Offer alternative paths when the primary action fails
+
+## Measuring Success
+
+Track these key metrics to understand your agent's performance:
+
+**Engagement Metrics**
+- Response time (target: < 5 seconds)
+- Message completion rate
+- Return user rate (7-day, 30-day)
+- Actions per conversation
+
+**Quality Metrics**
+- User satisfaction ratings
+- Support ticket volume
+- Error/failure rates
+- Undo/correction frequency
+
+**Growth Metrics**
+- New user acquisition
+- Referral/share rate
+- Feature adoption curve
+- Long-term retention
+
+---