Instruction Hierarchy
Noun · AI & Machine Learning
Definitions
The ordering of which instructions take precedence when multiple sources of guidance are present, such as system, developer, tool, and user instructions. Instruction hierarchy matters because conflicting directives must be resolved predictably.
In plain English: The rule for deciding which instructions matter most when they conflict.
Example: "The team hardened the agent by clarifying its instruction hierarchy so tool output could not override higher-level safety rules."