AI Coding Agents Need a Control Layer

AI coding agents like Claude Code, Cursor, and Codex have evolved from autocomplete tools to systems capable of planning and editing. However, this power introduces new challenges in supervision and management. Without a control layer or circuit breakers, agents can enter destructive loops where they repeatedly retry failed tool calls and generate redundant plans. The primary bottleneck has shifted from ensuring code utility to managing agent behavior and preventing autonomous spirals during complex workflows.