Start from a template
Build a custom agent faster by starting from a template.
Intermediate · ~10 min · Prerequisites: admin access
Building and editing agents is admin-only. Members can run and observe agents, but only admins can create or change them.
What you'll do
Pick a template from the builder, see what it pre-fills for you, customize it to match your org's needs, and publish the result.
Pick a template
Go to /admin/agents and click + New agent. Instead of starting blank, choose Start from a template. You'll see a gallery of starting points — each one ships with a suggested name, description, instructions, and a default tool set tuned for a common role.
Pick the template closest to what you need. You can change everything after, so an imperfect match is still faster than a blank page. For the full list of available templates and what each pre-fills, see Templates.
What it pre-fills
When you open a template, the builder populates three things for you:
- Identity & model — a display name, description, and a recommended model for the role.
- Instructions — a starter prompt that defines the agent's persona, boundaries, and output style.
- Tools — a default selection of built-in tools relevant to the role.
None of this is locked. Treat the template as a first draft, not a contract.
Customize it
Work through each section of the editor before you publish:
Identity & model — Rename the agent to match your org's naming convention. Swap the model if you need a different speed/quality trade-off. See Identity & model.
Instructions — Read the starter instructions carefully. Replace any placeholder text with your org's specifics: team names, tool names, escalation contacts, output formats. Add rules the template didn't anticipate. See Instructions.
Tools — Remove tools the agent won't need. Add any that the template left out. Fewer tools with clear purposes beats a broad set with overlapping scope. See Tools.
Save the draft as you go. Members keep seeing the last published version (or no agent at all, if this is new) until you publish.
Test and publish
Before you publish, open the test panel and run a few real prompts. Check that the instructions produce the voice and behavior you want, and that each tool fires correctly. See Test before you publish for a full walkthrough.
When you're satisfied, click Publish. The draft becomes version 1 and is immediately visible to members on the hub.