Advanced Concepts
Planning horizon
How far into the future an agent considers consequences when choosing actions.
Example
A planning system considers possible future actions before choosing its next move.
Why it matters
It helps a planning system avoid choices that look good now but cause trouble later.
You'll hear it
“Are we considering next month, or just the next step?”
Can you control it?
Not directly
No, not directly. Planning horizon describes a learned property, observed result, or broader concept rather than a normal user setting. You may influence it indirectly by changing the tool, data, prompt, or workflow.
Common questions
- Is looking further ahead always better?
- No. Distant predictions can be uncertain and expensive to explore.
- Can the horizon change during a task?
- Some systems adjust it when conditions, available time or the importance of a decision changes.
- What happens beyond the chosen horizon?
- Consequences further out may receive little or no consideration, depending on the planning method.