Enhance backlog assessment automation and documentation

.github/CODEOWNERS

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Request owner review for project-direction and automation controls.
+/GOALS.md @microsoft/typechat
+/AUTOMATION.md @microsoft/typechat
+AGENTS.md @microsoft/typechat
+/.github/ @microsoft/typechat
+/tools/ @microsoft/typechat

.github/copilot-instructions.md

@@ -3,6 +3,23 @@
 TypeChat turns natural-language requests into validated, typed data. Preserve
 schema accuracy, validation behavior, and compatibility when proposing changes.
 
+## Project direction
+
+Read [GOALS.md](../GOALS.md) before assessing scope or proposing work. It is the
+primary repository policy for product direction. Use the approved default-branch
+version; proposed edits in an unmerged PR are not active policy.
+
+Only the human owner team, `@microsoft/typechat`, can approve changes to that
+policy or exceptions to its boundaries. Items under consideration are not
+approved implementation work. If the policy is unavailable, fit is unclear, or
+a request conflicts with it, explain the issue and pause dependent work for an
+owner decision. Do not infer approval from community interest, labels, passing
+checks, or agent recommendations.
+
+Ordinary in-scope maintenance follows the existing maintainer review process.
+Do not remove supported behavior or close existing contributions merely because
+of a possible policy conflict; preserve the evidence and ask the owner.
+
 ## Working in this repository
 
 - The TypeScript library and examples are in `typescript/`; the Python library

.github/workflows/agent-workflow-check.yml

@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@ on:
   push:
     branches: [main]
     paths:
+      - "GOALS.md"
+      - "AUTOMATION.md"
+      - "README.md"
+      - ".github/CODEOWNERS"
+      - ".github/copilot-instructions.md"
       - ".github/workflows/**"
       - ".github/aw/**"
       - ".gitattributes"
@@ -13,6 +18,11 @@ on:
   pull_request:
     branches: [main]
     paths:
+      - "GOALS.md"
+      - "AUTOMATION.md"
+      - "README.md"
+      - ".github/CODEOWNERS"
+      - ".github/copilot-instructions.md"
       - ".github/workflows/**"
       - ".github/aw/**"
       - ".gitattributes"