What does it mean?
A helpful assistant also needs an experience that communicates its capabilities and boundaries. When personal context is missing or permissions are unavailable, it should clarify the limitation rather than act as if it knows more than it does. Clear boundaries help people develop an accurate mental model.
Make it concrete.
Imagine asking an assistant to summarize a private document. It states that the file is unavailable and explains how to provide access instead of fabricating a summary.
A common mistake.
Using confident language to disguise uncertainty, missing context, or permissions the user never granted.
When should you use it?
When building assistants that perform actions or rely on private and cross-app information.
Why keep this thought?
Clear limits reduce misplaced trust and make it easier to recover from failed requests.
Explore the source.
Nielsen Norman Group — The New Siri’s Biggest Strength Is Not Intelligence ↗An editorial interpretation of the linked source, not a direct quotation or endorsement.