Agent Failure Cost by Type
Different failure modes carry different price tags. The incident database shows the shapes — and the rule that stops each one.
The failure types
Retry loops — the most common; cost = single op × retries.
Unknown-vendor spend — procurement bypass, one unvetted merchant.
Prompt-injection spend — instructed purchases the operator never wanted.
Data deletion — the expensive non-monetary failure.
What the database shows
Documented runaways range from hundreds to millions of dollars.
The patterns repeat — which means the rules are known.
The rule per type
Retry loop → velocity limit. Unknown vendor → allowlist. Injection spend → deterministic rules. Deletion → approval on destructive actions.
At a glance
| Failure type | Cost shape | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Retry loop | Single op × retries | Velocity limit |
| Unknown vendor | One unvetted merchant | Merchant allowlist |
| Injection spend | Instructed purchases | Deterministic rules |
| Data deletion | Non-monetary | Approval on destructive ops |
FAQ
Which failure type is most expensive?
The largest documented losses are trading-agent events; the most common is the retry loop.
Where's the data from?
The public incident database — sourced records.
Related
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