Async Tool Confirmation Required

This example demonstrates how to implement human-in-the-loop functionality with async agents, requiring user confirmation before executing tool operations.

Create a Python file

1import asyncio
2import json
3
4import httpx
5from kern.agent import Agent
6from kern.models.openai import OpenAIResponses
7from kern.tools import tool
8from kern.utils import pprint
9from rich.console import Console
10from rich.prompt import Prompt
11
12console = Console()
13
14
15@tool(requires_confirmation=True)
16def get_top_hackernews_stories(num_stories: int) -> str:
17    """Fetch top stories from Hacker News.
18
19    Args:
20        num_stories (int): Number of stories to retrieve
21
22    Returns:
23        str: JSON string containing story details
24    """
25    # Fetch top story IDs
26    response = httpx.get("https://hacker-news.firebaseio.com/v0/topstories.json")
27    story_ids = response.json()
28
29    # Yield story details
30    all_stories = []
31    for story_id in story_ids[:num_stories]:
32        story_response = httpx.get(
33            f"https://hacker-news.firebaseio.com/v0/item/{story_id}.json"
34        )
35        story = story_response.json()
36        if "text" in story:
37            story.pop("text", None)
38        all_stories.append(story)
39    return json.dumps(all_stories)
40
41
42agent = Agent(
43    model=OpenAIResponses(id="gpt-5.2"),
44    tools=[get_top_hackernews_stories],
45    markdown=True,
46)
47
48run_response = asyncio.run(agent.arun("Fetch the top 2 hackernews stories"))
49if run_response.is_paused:
50    for requirement in run_response.active_requirements:
51        if requirement.needs_confirmation:
52            # Ask for confirmation
53            console.print(
54                f"Tool name [bold blue]{requirement.tool_execution.tool_name}({requirement.tool_execution.tool_args})[/] requires confirmation."
55            )
56            message = (
57                Prompt.ask("Do you want to continue?", choices=["y", "n"], default="y")
58                .strip()
59                .lower()
60            )
61
62            if message == "n":
63                requirement.reject()
64            else:
65                requirement.confirm()
66
67
68run_response = asyncio.run(agent.acontinue_run(run_response=run_response))
69# Or
70# run_response = asyncio.run(agent.acontinue_run(run_id=run_response.run_id))
71
72pprint.pprint_run_response(run_response)
73
74
75# Or for simple debug flow
76# asyncio.run(agent.aprint_response("Fetch the top 2 hackernews stories"))

Set up your virtual environment

1uv venv --python 3.12
2source .venv/bin/activate

1uv venv --python 3.12
2.venv\Scripts\activate

Install dependencies

1uv pip install -U kern-ai openai httpx rich

Export your OpenAI API key

1export OPENAI_API_KEY="your_openai_api_key_here"

1$Env:OPENAI_API_KEY="your_openai_api_key_here"

Run Agent

1python confirmation_required_async.py