Funnel Reef agent loops same SQL query 254 times

The author argues that AI agent harnesses often lack loop caps and explicit exit conditions, leading to repetitive execution of successful tool calls without finishing tasks. Examining an incident where Funnel's data agent executed the same SQL query hundreds of times, the piece demonstrates that per-call success does not equate to progress. The author recommends implementing repeat ceilings, clear tool contracts, and sequence-level scoring to catch infinite loops early. Open article →