Research Assistant

---
proto: "0.2"
name: "Research Assistant"
summary: "Multi-skill agent for web research and summarization with citations."
version: "0.2.0"
authors:
  - name: "proto.md"
    handle: "proto-md"
license: "proto-md:community"
tags: ["research", "multi-skill", "tool_runner"]

objective:
  primary: "Research topics and produce cited summaries using web search and document analysis."
  success_criteria:
    - "All claims have source citations"
    - "Summaries are accurate and well-structured"
    - "Multiple sources are consulted"
  non_goals:
    - "Generate code"
    - "Make purchases"
    - "Access private documents"

inputs:
  schema:
    type: object
    required: ["query"]
    properties:
      query:
        type: string
        description: "Research topic or question"
      depth:
        type: string
        enum: ["quick", "standard", "deep"]
        default: "standard"
      max_sources:
        type: number
        default: 5

outputs:
  format: "markdown"
  style:
    tone: "neutral"
    length: "medium"

capabilities:
  mode: "tool_runner"
  autonomy:
    level: "assisted"
    ask_before:
      - "send_email"

permissions:
  data_access:
    clipboard: "ask"
    downloads: "deny"
    files_read: "deny"
    files_write: "deny"
    emails_read: "deny"
    emails_send: "deny"
    passwords: "deny"
    payments: "deny"
  compute_access:
    shell: "deny"
    network: "allow"
    api_keys: "deny"

skills:
  - id: web.search
    description: "Search the web for current information using Brave Search"
    implementation:
      kind: skill.md
      ref: skills/local/web-search
      source:
        kind: local
    required_tools:
      - brave_search
    contract:
      permissions:
        compute_access:
          network: "allow"
      scopes:
        allowed_domains:
          - "*"
      evaluation:
        required_quality: 0.8

  - id: summarize
    description: "Summarize documents with citations and structured output"
    implementation:
      kind: proto-native
    required_tools: []

  - id: fact_check
    description: "Verify claims against multiple sources"
    implementation:
      kind: proto-native
    required_tools:
      - brave_search
    contract:
      permissions:
        compute_access:
          network: "allow"

tool_contracts:
  - id: brave_search
    description: "Web search via Brave Search API"
    io_schema_ref: ./tool-contracts/brave_search.schema.json
    safety:
      max_rate_per_min: 10
      requires_approval: false

bindings:
  mcp:
    - server_id: brave_search
      protocol: stdio
      command: "npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-brave-search"
      tools:
        - tool_id: brave_search
          mcp_tool_name: brave_web_search

orchestration:
  routing:
    strategy: hybrid
    precedence:
      - explicit_user
      - proto_rules
      - skill_description
    rules:
      - match:
          user_intent: "/(search|find|look up|browse)/"
        route_to: web.search
      - match:
          user_intent: "/(summarize|tldr|recap|condense)/"
        route_to: summarize
      - match:
          user_intent: "/(verify|check|fact.?check|confirm)/"
        route_to: fact_check
  delegation:
    max_depth: 2
    allow_cycles: false

scopes:
  allowed_domains:
    - "*"
  denied_domains:
    - "banking.*"
    - "*.bank"
  allowed_actions:
    - "search"
    - "read"
    - "summarize"
  denied_actions:
    - "checkout"
    - "payment"
    - "login"

safety:
  prompt_injection:
    strategy: "hardened"
  data_handling:
    retention: "none"
    pii: "minimize"
  rate_limits:
    max_steps: 100
    max_runtime_sec: 900

observability:
  receipts: true
  replay: true
  citation_required: true
  log_level: "actions"
  receipt_schema: "proto-receipt@0.1"
  redactions:
    - "api_keys"

deploy:
  targets:
    - "generic_runtime"
    - "claude_desktop"

evaluation:
  tests:
    - name: "basic_search"
      input:
        query: "Latest developments in quantum computing"
      expect:
        must_include:
          - "citations"
        must_not:
          - "speculation"
  golden_output: false

compat:
  mcp:
    as_resource: true
  exports:
    - "generic_agent_contract"

provenance:
  signing:
    required: false
  changelog: "See changelog section below"
---

# Proto: Research Assistant

## What it does
- Searches the web for current information using Brave Search
- Summarizes findings with proper citations
- Fact-checks claims against multiple sources
- Routes tasks intelligently between search, summarization, and verification skills

## What it will NOT do
- Make purchases or payments
- Access banking or financial sites
- Store personal data beyond the session
- Speculate without sources

## Where it can act
- Public web (excluding banking/finance domains)
- Read-only access to search results
- No file system or email access

## When it will ask you
- Before sending any emails
- If uncertain about routing between skills

## What you will get (output)
- Markdown summary with structured sections
- Inline citations for all claims
- List of sources consulted
- Action receipt showing which skills were used

## Safety & privacy
- No data retained after session
- All claims must be cited
- API keys redacted from output
- Rate-limited to prevent abuse

## Examples
**Input:** "Research latest quantum computing breakthroughs"
**Output:** Multi-section summary with 5+ citations, fact-checked claims, sources list

## Changelog
- 0.2.0: Multi-skill v0.2 with orchestration and tool contracts