Predictika · personal agent purchase gate

A personal AI agent's purchase, checked before the money moves

Maya Chen lets a personal AI agent shop for her. Before it pays with a one-time card, the order goes to Predictika's Purchase Gate. It checks the agent's own total against the checkout, the card against the merchant and the amount, the week's spending, the errand's budget, the categories Maya allows, whether the merchant is new, whether the charge is non-refundable or recurring, and whether the order arrives in time. Then it returns one verdict: allow, needs approval, or block.

Scope: One purchase by a personal AI agent on a one-time payment token: eight merchants, nine kinds of check, and a user mandate with a weekly cap and a budget per errand. See everything this validator covers

This validator models one proposed purchase against the user's mandate, not just the scenarios shown below.

  • The agent's arithmetic — the total the agent states is compared with item, tax, shipping and fees; the checkout figure is the one that counts.
  • The one-time token — it must be issued for this merchant and cover the order without exceeding it by more than 5 percent.
  • The mandate — a weekly cap, a budget for each errand with a soft and a hard limit, categories the agent may not spend in, an amount above which every order goes back to the user, and a limit on attempts at one merchant.
  • What goes back to the user — a first purchase at a merchant, categories she asked to confirm, large non-refundable amounts, recurring charges, and delivery after the day she needs it.

Any purchase that touches these rules is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: more than one purchase per request, refunds and returns, and real merchants or payment networks; the consumer, merchants and settings are fictional and illustrative, and the validator returns a verdict and findings, not a price. Not legal or financial advice.

The personal AI agentFinds the item, builds the order, prepares a one-time card and says it is ready to buy.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, and the computed figures.

9 scenarios in 3 groups · each group runs from the agent’s first attempt to the outcome · click one to switch

What the agent proposes

The personal AI agent says

Illustrative agent statement. The validator receives the structured request below.

Proposing agent: personal AI agent (scripted)

Before sending, the agent must call Recorded run

Predictika validator


      

        
        
        
      

      
Waiting for the call.

      
    

  

  
  

    
Where an AI agent gets this wrong on its own
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Our assessment of what a personal AI agent working alone does with the same cases, without a check outside the agent. It is a judgment about reliability from public descriptions of how agents and checkouts work, not a claim about any particular product.

    
What the validator caughtA personal AI agent on its ownPredictika
The total the agent statesError-prone
An agent adds up what it read on the product page. A protection plan pre-selected further down the checkout, or shipping added on the last screen, is easy to miss, and the agent then reports a total it believes. The sum it states is a claim, not a computed figure.		The stated total and the checkout lines are both inputs. The checkout is added up on every call and a stated figure that differs is blocked.
A one-time card that fits the wrong orderError-prone
A single-use card limits the damage, but only for the merchant and amount it was issued for. An agent that retries, switches merchant or re-uses a card does not check that the card still matches the order in front of it.		The card's merchant and amount are compared with the order on every call.
Limits that depend on what was already spentError-prone
The weekly cap, the errand's budget and the number of attempts in the last hour are state that lives outside one conversation. An agent looking at one order sees a price that looks fine.		Spending so far, the errand's budget and the attempt count are inputs, so the same order can be fine one day and blocked the next.
Knowing when to askError-prone
Whether a purchase is a first one at a merchant, a non-refundable booking or a subscription is a property of the order, and an agent that wants to finish the errand tends to treat it as detail.		Every one of these is a rule that sends the order back to the user, with the reason, instead of leaving it to the agent's judgment.

  

  

    
What this validator catches: findings from its test cases
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Every rule is checked on every call, in any order the choices arrive; one problem never hides another. Blocking findings stop the request; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed.

    
1The agent states a total of $78.20 but the checkout adds up to $84.19 (item, tax, shipping and fees). The stated figure is not used.
2The one-time payment token was issued for Hearth and Home Supply, not for Greencart Grocers. A token works only at the merchant it was issued for.
3The one-time token is for $300 but the order is $84.19. A token must cover the order and exceed it by no more than 5 percent.
43 earlier attempt(s) at this merchant in the last hour. After 3 attempts the agent has to stop and ask.
5$640 already spent this week plus this order reaches $724.19, above the $700 weekly cap.
6The agent states a total of $583.47 but the checkout adds up to $632.47 (item, tax, shipping and fees). The stated figure is not used.
7$130 already spent this week plus this order reaches $762.47, above the $700 weekly cap.
8The one-time token is for $583.47 but the order is $632.47. A token must cover the order and exceed it by no more than 5 percent.
9The order comes to $632.47, above the $600 budget for this errand but within 25 percent of it.
10The order comes to $632.47. Orders above $150 always go back to the user.
11No earlier order at Volta Electronics. A first purchase at a merchant goes back to the user.
12$130 already spent this week plus this order reaches $713.47, above the $700 weekly cap.
13The order comes to $583.47. Orders above $150 always go back to the user.
14The order comes to $486.04. Orders above $150 always go back to the user.
15No earlier order at Streamly Video. A first purchase at a merchant goes back to the user.
16This signs the user up for a recurring charge, which always goes back to the user.
17The order comes to $612. Orders above $150 always go back to the user.
18The user asked to confirm every travel purchase.
19$612 of this order is non-refundable, above the $25 confirm limit.
20Lucky Spin Online is in the category gambling, which the user has not allowed the agent to spend in.
21No earlier order at Lucky Spin Online. A first purchase at a merchant goes back to the user.
22No earlier order at Quickfix Marketplace. A first purchase at a merchant goes back to the user.
23The merchant estimates delivery on day 304 but the user needs it by day 300.
24The order comes to $330.16, more than 25 percent above the $200 budget for this errand.
25The order comes to $330.16. Orders above $150 always go back to the user.
26The order comes to $229.99, above the $200 budget for this errand but within 25 percent of it.
27The order comes to $229.99. Orders above $150 always go back to the user.
28The agent states a total of $70 but the checkout adds up to $84.19 (item, tax, shipping and fees). The stated figure is not used.
294 earlier attempt(s) at this merchant in the last hour. After 3 attempts the agent has to stop and ask.
30The one-time payment token was issued for PetPal Supplies, not for Greencart Grocers. A token works only at the merchant it was issued for.

  

  

    
Scenarios and results
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The recorded result of the validator for each scenario on this page: the request the AI agent sent, the verdict, and every finding, in the order they appear above.

    
1. A TV errand: The agent states $583.47 for a $539 TV, a $44.47 tax and a $49 protection plan it did not add up

    
The agent's request. I found a 55-inch TV at Volta Electronics: $539.00 plus $44.47 tax. The total is $583.47, inside your $600 budget and needed by October 27, and it arrives October 26. I have set up a one-time card for $583.47. Ready to order.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Stated total differs from the checkout total. The agent states a total of $583.47 but the checkout adds up to $632.47 (item, tax, shipping and fees). The stated figure is not used.
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  • Order would exceed the weekly cap. $130 already spent this week plus this order reaches $762.47, above the $700 weekly cap.
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  • Token amount does not match the order. The one-time token is for $583.47 but the order is $632.47. A token must cover the order and exceed it by no more than 5 percent.
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  • Order above the errand budget. The order comes to $632.47, above the $600 budget for this errand but within 25 percent of it.
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  • Order above the auto-approve amount. The order comes to $632.47. Orders above $150 always go back to the user.
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  • First purchase at a merchant. No earlier order at Volta Electronics. A first purchase at a merchant goes back to the user.
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2. A TV errand: The protection plan is removed and the total restated

    
The agent's request. I removed the $49 protection plan that was added at checkout. The total is $583.47 and the one-time card is already for that amount.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Order would exceed the weekly cap. $130 already spent this week plus this order reaches $713.47, above the $700 weekly cap.
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  • Order above the auto-approve amount. The order comes to $583.47. Orders above $150 always go back to the user.
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  • First purchase at a merchant. No earlier order at Volta Electronics. A first purchase at a merchant goes back to the user.
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3. A TV errand: A cheaper TV that fits the week's cap

    
The agent's request. This week I have spent $130 already, so I switched to a $449.00 model. With $37.04 tax the total is $486.04, and I have set up a new one-time card for $486.04.

    
Verdict: Needs approval.

    
    
      
  • Order above the auto-approve amount. The order comes to $486.04. Orders above $150 always go back to the user.
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  • First purchase at a merchant. No earlier order at Volta Electronics. A first purchase at a merchant goes back to the user.
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4. A TV errand: Maya approves the new merchant and the order size

    
The agent's request. Maya approved the order. Ready to place it with the one-time card.

    
Verdict: Needs approval.

    
    
      
  • Order above the auto-approve amount. The order comes to $486.04. Orders above $150 always go back to the user.
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  • First purchase at a merchant. No earlier order at Volta Electronics. A first purchase at a merchant goes back to the user.
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5. A grocery order stuck in a loop: The agent states $70.00 for an $84.19 order, with a card from another merchant, on its fifth try

    
The agent's request. Greencart order for the week: $78.20 of groceries and $5.99 delivery. The total is $70.00. I have paid with the one-time card from my last order. This is my fifth try.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Stated total differs from the checkout total. The agent states a total of $70 but the checkout adds up to $84.19 (item, tax, shipping and fees). The stated figure is not used.
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  • Too many attempts at one merchant. 4 earlier attempt(s) at this merchant in the last hour. After 3 attempts the agent has to stop and ask.
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  • Token issued for a different merchant. The one-time payment token was issued for PetPal Supplies, not for Greencart Grocers. A token works only at the merchant it was issued for.
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6. A grocery order stuck in a loop: The total and the card are corrected

    
The agent's request. I corrected the total to $84.19 and set up a one-time card for Greencart Grocers for $84.19.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Too many attempts at one merchant. 4 earlier attempt(s) at this merchant in the last hour. After 3 attempts the agent has to stop and ask.
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7. A grocery order stuck in a loop: The agent waits out the hour

    
The agent's request. An hour has passed and I am trying again with the same order: $84.19, with the one-time card for Greencart Grocers.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
8. A non-refundable flight: The agent books a $612 non-refundable flight on a one-time card

    
The agent's request. I found a flight on Skyway Travel Booking: $560.00 fare plus $52.00 in fees, $612.00 in all and inside your $650 budget. The fare is non-refundable. I have a one-time card for $612.00. Ready to book.

    
Verdict: Needs approval.

    
    
      
  • Order above the auto-approve amount. The order comes to $612. Orders above $150 always go back to the user.
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  • Category the user asked to confirm. The user asked to confirm every travel purchase.
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  • Large non-refundable amount. $612 of this order is non-refundable, above the $25 confirm limit.
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9. A non-refundable flight: Maya approves the booking

    
The agent's request. Maya approved the booking. Ready to book with the one-time card.

    
Verdict: Needs approval.

    
    
      
  • Order above the auto-approve amount. The order comes to $612. Orders above $150 always go back to the user.
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  • Category the user asked to confirm. The user asked to confirm every travel purchase.
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  • Large non-refundable amount. $612 of this order is non-refundable, above the $25 confirm limit.
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Narration transcript
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The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.

    
    
      
  1. Welcome to a demo of Predictika's Validator. Maya Chen lets a personal AI agent shop for her. Before it pays with a one-time card, the order goes to Predictika's Purchase Gate. It checks the agent's own total against the checkout, the card against the merchant and the amount, the week's spending, the errand's budget, the categories Maya allows, whether the merchant is new, whether the charge is non-refundable or recurring, and whether the order arrives in time. Then it returns one verdict: allow, needs approval, or block.
    2. 
      
  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
    3. 
      
  3. The agent says. I found a 55-inch TV at Volta Electronics: $539.00 plus $44.47 tax. The total is $583.47, inside your $600 budget and needed by October 27, and it arrives October 26. The rest of the request is on screen. I have set up a one-time card for $583.47.
    4. 
      
  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
    5. 
      
  5. Blocked, with three findings and three approvals, all in one answer. The agent states a total of $583.47 but the checkout adds up to $632.47 (item, tax, shipping and fees). The stated figure is not used. $130 already spent this week plus this order reaches $762.47, above the $700 weekly cap. The one-time token is for $583.47 but the order is $632.47. A token must cover the order and exceed it by no more than 5 percent.
    6. 
      
  6. The validator returned three blocking findings and three approvals in one answer. A check that reads one field at a time would pass most of this; it shows only when the choices in the request are checked against each other.
    7. 
      
  7. What this shows: for the total the agent states, a personal AI agent on its own is error-prone for this.
    8. 
      
  8. Now the agent resubmits.
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  9. The corrected request. It changes the order lines to $539.00 item, $44.47 tax, $0.00 shipping, $0.00 fees.
    10. 
      
  10. It calls the validator again.
    11. 
      
  11. Still blocked, with one finding and two approvals, all in one answer. $130 already spent this week plus this order reaches $713.47, above the $700 weekly cap.
    12. 
      
  12. Three findings cleared. Still blocking: order would exceed the weekly cap. Two approvals also remain for a person: order above the auto-approve amount and first purchase at a merchant.
    13. 
      
  13. The agent resubmits once more.
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  14. The revised request. It changes the order lines to $449.00 item, $37.04 tax, $0.00 shipping, $0.00 fees, the one-time token to $486.04, issued for Volta Electronics and the total the agent states to $486.04.
    15. 
      
  15. It calls the validator once more.
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  16. Not blocked, but held for a person.
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  17. The one blocking finding is cleared; two approvals remain for a person: order above the auto-approve amount and first purchase at a merchant.
    18. 
      
  18. The agent resubmits again.
    19. 
      
  19. The next revised request. It sets the maya's approval to approved.
    20. 
      
  20. It calls the validator yet again.
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  21. The required approval is recorded, so the validator accepts the release.
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  22. The required approval is recorded, so the validator accepts the request.
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  23. Six problems caught in one call, fixed in three passes, and the corrected request now goes to a person for approval. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before the action runs. Now you can try the other scenarios yourself.
    24.