Creating Your Own AI Agents

Build AI agents for recurring tasks, use pre-built templates, or customize them to match your workflow.

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Key Benefits and Use Cases

Specialized agents are saved, named, and versioned agents for a specific task, role, or recurring workflow.

The main benefit: you set up an agent once and can reuse it again and again.

You can use a custom agent to:

• Use it in chat

• Mention it in comments

• Run it in a task or project

• Use it in automations

• Run it on a schedule

• Share it with your team

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What is an Agent?

An agent is a saved AI configuration for a specific task, role, or recurring workflow.

An agent's configuration can include:

• Name
• Description
• Instructions (system prompt)
• Model
• Reasoning level
• Tools
• Skills
• Connectors
• Files
• Avatar

An agent can then be run in chat, in comments, in tasks and projects, as well as via schedules or automations.

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How to Create an Agent

You create and manage agents in the Agent Library.

You can create new items there and open and configure existing items.

1. Click the Library button in the upper right corner and select the Agents section.

2. Click the + Agent button

4. In the dropdown menu, you have two options:

   • New Agent: Create a completely custom agent according to your ideas
   • Use Template: Use an existing template as a starting point for your new agent

   Select + New Agent to proceed with creation.

5. Choose your starting method

   • Create with AI (recommended): Let AI help you create the agent. awork guides you through a dialog-based setup process. The AI asks questions, gathers requirements, and helps you build the agent configuration together.
   • Create Manually: Configure the agent yourself from scratch

6. Give your agent a name and description

7. Define the agent's task and instructions

8. Choose model, tools, skills, and connectors

9. Set an avatar if needed

10. Test the agent and improve its configuration

Which changes are possible depends on your access. Editable entries show their configuration and editing options. Items with read-only access can still be used and viewed, but cannot be changed.

Many changes are saved immediately as you edit. There is no separate Save step in these areas.

Agent Version History

An agent's instructions have a version history.

Users can view older versions and restore them if needed.

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Using Pre-Built Agents with a Template

You don't always have to create an agent from scratch.

The Agent Library offers curated templates created by awork. These already include:

• System prompt

• Sensible model and reasoning settings

• Matching tools

Users can create their own agent from a template and then customize it. Templates serve as a helpful starting point, not as an unchangeable, final configuration.

Open the Library, click the + Agent button, and select Use Template to create a normal, fully editable agent in your workspace.

Available Agent Types

The templates cover typical agency tasks, including:

• Review Briefings

• Plan Projects

• Check Project and Portfolio Health

• Review Time Tracking

• Prepare Meeting Follow-ups

• Prepare Campaign Strategies

• Review Personas

• Check Brand Safety

The templates are usable even if your workspace initially has little relevant context.

Some templates can even help you create the context you need if it's missing.

Customizing Templates

A template is not an unchangeable agent. After clicking Use Template, you get an agent that you can edit, test, and then refine further.

For best results, you should adapt a preset early to your requirements:

• Describe the specific task – Explain exactly what the agent should do

• Add company knowledge – Include company-specific rules and guidelines

• Add suitable connectors – Presets don't include external app connectors by default

• Provide existing context directly – Reference relevant information instead of letting the agent guess

This is especially important for agents like briefing or brand safety agents that depend on company-specific guidelines.

You can always use a fresh version of the original template if you want to start over with the default configuration.

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Using Your Own Agent

You can run your own agent in several ways.

In Chat

1. Create a new thread

2. Select a custom agent

3. Write your message

4. The thread uses this agent's configuration

When an agent is selected in a thread, its configuration is used as the default for that run.

Some settings can still be adjusted for the current thread. However, these changes do not permanently change the agent.

If the agent is removed from the thread, the user's normal default settings are used again.

In Comments

You can mention a custom agent with @ in a comment. As soon as you type the first letter, the available agents will be suggested. Select the agent you want.

In a Task or Project

On tasks and projects, you can select a custom agent from a dropdown field.

When you select the agent, it runs immediately. It is not permanently added as the responsible party.

For customer language, this means: Run the agent in a task or project.

In Automations

A custom agent can be used as a step in a project automation.

On a Schedule

An agent can run automatically on a schedule.

When the agent runs, it uses the permissions of the user who created the schedule. Only the creator can edit it.

A schedule:

• Can run at most once per hour

• Can contain additional instructions

• Can optionally receive a project or task as context

• Is automatically disabled after three consecutive failed runs

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Skills for Custom Agents

Skills are reusable instructions or expertise that an agent can use.

You can create a skill:

• In the Agent Library

• Directly within a custom agent

• Import from a compatible skill package

Skills from the Library

A reusable library skill belongs to its creator and can be connected to multiple agents.

This way, a procedure can be centrally maintained and used in multiple agent configurations.

Skills Within an Agent

A skill that you create directly in an agent belongs only to that agent.

It becomes active immediately and does not appear as a reusable skill in the general library.

For skills, you can set things like name, description, instructions, supporting files, and required permissions.

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Connectors for Agents

Connectors allow an agent to use external systems via MCP.

A connector and an authenticated connection are two different things:

• Connector – describes the external system.

• Connection – is the actual authenticated connection to that system.

A connector can have multiple connections.

Which connection an agent can use depends on the permissions and available connection of the responsible user. A shared agent does not automatically gain access to a shared user account.

When an agent is used by multiple users, each usage applies the respective available connections and permissions.

Adding Connectors to an Agent

Each custom agent has its own list of connected external tools.

You can:

1. Select an existing workspace connector

2. Create a new connector

3. Select one or multiple available connectors via search

A newly created connector is immediately connected to the agent.

Only the connectors connected to the agent are displayed in its configuration afterward.

Available Connectors

There is a curated catalog with around 30 ready-made connectors, including for example:

• Slack

• Notion

• GitHub

• HubSpot

• Salesforce

• Google Workspace

• Microsoft 365

Most connectors can be connected with a single click. Some require your own API credentials for the respective application.

If an application is not in the catalog, you can also add another MCP connector via its URL.

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Sharing Connectors and Connections

For shared agents, editors can determine how connections are used.

They can choose whether:

• Each user uses their own connection

• A specific connection is provided by the agent

Connections themselves have their own sharing logic.

A connection is initially private. It can then be shared with the entire workspace, specific teams, or individual users.

Only the owner of a connection or a workspace administrator can manage or remove a shared connection.

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Sharing Agents and Skills

Agents and reusable skills can be shared selectively.

For agents and skills, you can grant access to:

• The entire workspace

• Specific teams

• Individual users

There are two access levels:

• Read and Use – The user can use the agent and utilize the connected skills

• Manage – The user can change the agent's configuration and sharing

A user with access to an agent does not need to be separately granted access to each individual skill used in it to use the agent.

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FAQ

What's the difference between the awork agent and a custom agent?

The awork agent is the built-in agent for general tasks and works without setup.

A custom agent is configured, saved, and shared for a specific task or recurring workflow.

Do I have to build a custom agent myself?

No. You can start with a curated preset and then edit it.

Can I change a preset later?

Yes. Use Template creates a normal, fully editable custom agent.

Can I apply a custom agent to a task or project?

Yes. You can select the agent and run it directly in the task or project.

Can an agent run automatically?

Yes. A custom agent can be run in an automation or on a schedule.

Can custom agents use external apps?

Yes. You can connect suitable connectors to the agent.

What's the difference between a connector and a connection?

The connector defines the external system. The connection is the actual authenticated identity used to access it.

Can I share a custom agent with my team?

Yes. Agents can be shared with the entire workspace, specific teams, or individual users.