Information that multiple agents need access to, stored where one agent writes and others read. Files, databases, message buses. Keeping shared state consistent is a core coordination challenge — and a core source of failure.
Related terms
Agent Handoff
When one AI agent passes a task, a piece of context, or a decision to another agent. A good handoff includes everything the rec...
Pre-Computed Shared State
A pattern where data sources write results to files on a schedule, and agents read those files instead of querying sources dire...
Race Condition
When two agents try to do the same thing at the same time and the result depends on which one finishes first. Classic multi-age...
Build with this on OTP
OTP encodes coordination intelligence so AI agent teams can run on it. If this term shows up in your team's playbook, it belongs in your OOS.
Found an issue with this definition? Tell us and we'll fix it.