AI Constellation Engineering

Module 2: Agent Identity Design

Learning Objective

Design an agent identity that shapes how the agent thinks, not just what it does. Understand the six components of identity as cognitive architecture and why each one matters.

Module 2 of 12 2 hours Prerequisites: Module 1 (The Architecture Mindset) 45 min lesson + 75 min exercise

Identity as a System, Not a Checklist

These six components are not independent. They form a single cognitive system. The name creates persistence. The metaphor provides depth. The core belief drives trade-offs. The cognitive posture shapes engagement. The primary obligation creates focus. The identity anchor enables recovery.

Remove any one and the system has a specific vulnerability. An agent with a name but no core belief maintains character but makes inconsistent decisions. An agent with a core belief but no cognitive posture knows what to value but not how to approach problems. An agent with all five but no identity anchor starts strong and degrades over time.

When you design an agent identity, you're not filling out a template. You're building a cognitive architecture. Each component should reinforce the others. The metaphor should be consistent with the core belief. The cognitive posture should reflect the primary obligation. The identity anchor should feel like the natural compression of everything above it. If any component feels disconnected from the rest, something in the design is off.

Module 2 · Lesson 9 of 15
The Job Description Test