Simple Chat

Create an agent

Build a reusable assistant with a clear role, model, knowledge, and instructions.

What this does

An agent is a specialized assistant that keeps the same role, instructions, knowledge choices, and optional tools every time someone uses it. This guide creates a local workspace agent that can be selected from chat.

Video planned

Create an agent walkthrough

Recording planned. Show create an agent end to end and explain why this task helps a user.

To publish this video:

  1. Upload the recording to YouTube or Microsoft Stream.
  2. Save a poster frame as docs/images/video-posters/guide-create-an-agent.png.
  3. Add the watch URL to this slot in docs/_data/media.yml.

Why you would use this

Create an agent when a task benefits from consistent behavior, such as policy review, proposal help, research assistance, or workspace-specific expertise. It reduces prompt rewriting and makes approved instructions reusable; it is not needed for a one-time question or for bypassing document permissions.

Before you start

  • Admins must enable enable_semantic_kernel; workspace agents also require per_user_semantic_kernel and allow_user_agents or allow_group_agents; see Agents settings.
  • At least one GPT model endpoint must be configured; see AI Models.
  • Upload and process workspace documents first if the agent should use assigned knowledge.

Steps

  1. Open Personal Workspace or the target Group Workspace.
  2. Choose Your Agents or the Agents tab.
  3. Select New Agent.
  1. Choose Local in Agent Type unless an admin told you to use a Foundry option.
  2. In Basic Information, enter Display Name, Description, optional Tags, and an icon.
  3. In Model & Connection, select the model or connection for the workspace.
  4. In Assigned Knowledge, enable Restrict this agent to assigned workspace knowledge only when the agent needs a defined document pool.
  5. In Instructions, write Agent Instructions or use Instruction Brief and Draft Instructions.
  1. Review Summary and save the agent.

Verify it worked

The agent appears in the Agents list. In chat, select Agents, open Select an Agent, and confirm your new agent is available.

Troubleshooting

Symptom Likely cause Fix
New Agent is not shown Personal or group agents are disabled by governance Ask an admin to enable the relevant agent scope.
The agent cannot use expected documents Assigned knowledge is empty or documents are not processed Add source workspaces, tags, or specific documents and confirm Active Documents.