Overview
AI Agents are autonomous AI assistants that can work independently to accomplish complex tasks, monitor systems, and execute multi-step workflows. Unlike regular chats, agents can operate continuously, make decisions, use tools, and even collaborate with other agents to achieve your goals. Think of agents as your AI employees that never sleep, never forget, and can handle repetitive tasks while you focus on higher-value work.How It Works
AI Agents in mixus are built around a simple but powerful concept:- Define the Goal: Tell the agent what you want to accomplish
- Set the Steps: Break down the task into actionable steps (or let AI create them)
- Configure Tools: Choose which tools and integrations the agent can use
- Schedule Execution: Run immediately, on a schedule, or trigger-based
- Monitor Progress: Track execution and receive updates on completion
Agent creation and execution flow
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Getting Started
Creating Your First Agent
- Start from a Chat: Have a conversation about a task you want to automate
- Click “Create Agent”: mixus will suggest an agent based on your conversation
- Review the Steps: Modify the proposed workflow as needed
- Configure Tools: Enable the tools your agent will need
- Run or Schedule: Execute immediately or set up automation
Running Agents
Once you’ve created an agent, you can run it in several ways:- Natural Language: Type
run agent {agent name}in any chat - Dashboard: Navigate to Agents → [Agent Name] → Run Now
- @ Mentions: Use
@agent-namein your conversations - Scheduled: Set up automatic execution times
Agent Templates
Choose from pre-built templates for common use cases:- Email Assistant: Automatically respond to and categorize emails
- Data Monitor: Track metrics and alert on changes
- Content Creator: Generate and publish content on schedule
- Research Assistant: Gather and synthesize information from multiple sources
- Customer Support: Handle common customer inquiries
Key Features
Autonomous Execution
Multi-Step Workflows
Agents can execute complex workflows with multiple steps:- Sequential Processing: Complete tasks in order
- Conditional Logic: Make decisions based on results
- Error Handling: Retry failed steps or take alternative actions
- Progress Tracking: Monitor execution status in real-time
Tool Integration
Agents have access to all mixus tools and capabilities:- Web Search: Find current information and data
- Document Processing: Analyze and create documents
- Email Management: Send, receive, and process emails
- Data Analysis: Process spreadsheets and databases
- Integration Actions: Connect with 200+ external services
Scheduling and Triggers
Flexible Scheduling
- One-time Execution: Run agent once immediately
- Recurring Schedule: Daily, weekly, monthly, or custom intervals
- Time-based Triggers: Execute at specific times or dates
- Event-based Triggers: Respond to external events or conditions
Smart Monitoring
- Continuous Monitoring: Agents can watch for changes or conditions
- Threshold Alerts: Trigger actions when metrics exceed limits
- Data Polling: Regularly check external sources for updates
- Intelligent Filtering: Focus on relevant changes and events
Collaboration Features
Human-in-the-Loop
- Verification Steps: Require human approval for critical actions
- Review Points: Pause execution for human review and input
- Exception Handling: Escalate to humans when agents encounter issues
- Feedback Integration: Learn from human corrections and preferences
Agent-to-Agent Communication
- Workflow Chaining: Connect multiple agents in sequence
- Data Sharing: Pass information between agents
- Coordinated Execution: Synchronize multiple agents for complex tasks
- Hierarchical Management: Parent agents can manage child agents
Agent Types
Task Automation Agents
Email Management
- Auto-Response: Respond to common inquiries automatically
- Email Categorization: Sort and prioritize incoming messages
- Follow-up Tracking: Ensure important emails get responses
- Newsletter Management: Create and send regular updates
Data Processing
- Report Generation: Create regular reports from data sources
- Data Migration: Transfer data between systems
- Quality Assurance: Validate and clean data automatically
- Backup Management: Ensure data is properly backed up
Content Management
- Social Media: Schedule and publish content across platforms
- Blog Management: Create, edit, and publish blog posts
- Documentation: Maintain and update technical documentation
- SEO Optimization: Optimize content for search engines
Monitoring Agents
System Monitoring
- Performance Tracking: Monitor system metrics and performance
- Error Detection: Identify and report system issues
- Capacity Planning: Track resource usage and predict needs
- Security Monitoring: Watch for security threats and anomalies
Business Intelligence
- KPI Tracking: Monitor key performance indicators
- Competitive Analysis: Track competitor activities and pricing
- Market Research: Gather intelligence on market trends
- Customer Sentiment: Monitor social media and review sentiment
Compliance Monitoring
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensure adherence to regulations
- Policy Enforcement: Monitor compliance with internal policies
- Audit Preparation: Gather and organize audit materials
- Risk Assessment: Identify and evaluate potential risks
Creative Agents
Content Creation
- Writing Assistant: Generate articles, blogs, and marketing copy
- Design Helper: Create visual content and graphics
- Video Production: Script and produce video content
- Podcast Management: Research, script, and produce podcast episodes
Marketing Automation
- Campaign Management: Plan and execute marketing campaigns
- Lead Generation: Identify and qualify potential customers
- Customer Engagement: Nurture leads through automated sequences
- Performance Analysis: Analyze campaign effectiveness and ROI
Creating Effective Agents
Planning Your Agent
Define Clear Objectives
- Specific Goals: What exactly should the agent accomplish?
- Success Metrics: How will you measure the agent’s effectiveness?
- Scope Boundaries: What should the agent NOT do?
- Resource Requirements: What tools and access does it need?
Design the Workflow
- Break Down Tasks: Identify all steps required to achieve the goal
- Sequence Planning: Determine the optimal order of operations
- Decision Points: Where does the agent need to make choices?
- Error Scenarios: What could go wrong and how to handle it?
Agent Configuration
Tool Selection
Choose the right tools for your agent’s tasks:- Essential Tools: Core capabilities needed for the primary function
- Supporting Tools: Additional capabilities that enhance effectiveness
- Integration Tools: Connections to external systems and services
- Monitoring Tools: Capabilities for tracking and reporting progress
Security and Permissions
- Access Control: Grant minimum necessary permissions
- Data Handling: Ensure proper handling of sensitive information
- Audit Logging: Track all agent actions for compliance
- Approval Workflows: Require human approval for sensitive operations
Testing and Iteration
Initial Testing
- Dry Run: Test the agent with sample data first
- Limited Scope: Start with a small subset of the full task
- Monitor Closely: Watch the first few executions carefully
- Gather Feedback: Collect input from stakeholders
Continuous Improvement
- Performance Analysis: Review agent effectiveness regularly
- Error Analysis: Identify and fix common failure points
- Workflow Optimization: Streamline processes based on results
- Feature Updates: Add new capabilities as needs evolve
Best Practices
Agent Design
Keep It Simple
- Single Purpose: Each agent should have one clear primary function
- Minimal Complexity: Avoid overly complex workflows initially
- Clear Steps: Make each step specific and actionable
- Logical Flow: Ensure steps follow a logical sequence
Build in Flexibility
- Error Handling: Plan for things that might go wrong
- Conditional Logic: Allow agents to adapt to different scenarios
- Parameter Configuration: Make agents configurable for different contexts
- Graceful Degradation: Ensure agents can handle partial failures
Operational Excellence
Monitoring and Maintenance
- Regular Reviews: Check agent performance periodically
- Update Schedules: Keep agent configurations current
- Performance Metrics: Track key indicators of agent health
- Preventive Maintenance: Address issues before they become problems
Documentation
- Purpose Documentation: Clearly document what each agent does
- Workflow Documentation: Explain the step-by-step process
- Troubleshooting Guides: Document common issues and solutions
- Change Management: Track modifications and their reasons
Security and Compliance
Data Protection
- Sensitive Data: Be careful with personally identifiable information
- Access Logs: Maintain records of all agent actions
- Data Retention: Follow appropriate data retention policies
- Encryption: Ensure data is encrypted in transit and at rest
Ethical Considerations
- Transparency: Be clear about what agents are doing
- Human Oversight: Maintain appropriate human supervision
- Bias Prevention: Monitor for and address potential biases
- Fairness: Ensure agents treat all users and data fairly
Use Cases
Business Operations
Customer Service
- 24/7 Support: Provide round-the-clock customer assistance
- Ticket Routing: Automatically categorize and route support tickets
- Knowledge Base: Maintain and update customer support documentation
- Escalation Management: Identify when human intervention is needed
Sales and Marketing
- Lead Qualification: Automatically assess and score potential customers
- Follow-up Automation: Nurture leads through automated sequences
- Market Analysis: Monitor competitors and market conditions
- Campaign Optimization: Adjust marketing campaigns based on performance
Operations Management
- Inventory Monitoring: Track inventory levels and reorder automatically
- Vendor Management: Monitor supplier performance and contracts
- Quality Control: Automate quality assurance processes
- Resource Planning: Optimize resource allocation and scheduling
Personal Productivity
Information Management
- News Curation: Gather and summarize relevant news and information
- Research Assistance: Continuously gather information on topics of interest
- Document Organization: Automatically organize and categorize documents
- Task Management: Track and manage personal and professional tasks
Communication
- Email Management: Automatically process and respond to emails
- Social Media: Manage social media presence and engagement
- Calendar Management: Schedule meetings and manage appointments
- Contact Management: Maintain and update contact information
Learning and Development
- Skill Tracking: Monitor progress on learning goals
- Content Curation: Find and organize learning materials
- Practice Scheduling: Schedule regular practice sessions
- Progress Reporting: Generate reports on learning achievements
Limitations
Technical Constraints
- Execution Time: Long-running agents may have time limits
- Resource Usage: Agents consume computational resources
- Tool Limitations: Some tools may have usage restrictions
- External Dependencies: Agents rely on external services and APIs
Operational Considerations
- Human Oversight: Some tasks require human judgment and oversight
- Error Handling: Agents may not handle all edge cases perfectly
- Context Understanding: Agents may miss nuanced context
- Adaptation: Agents may need updates as requirements change
Ethical and Legal
- Compliance: Agents must comply with relevant regulations
- Privacy: Careful handling of personal and sensitive data
- Transparency: Users should know when they’re interacting with agents
- Accountability: Clear responsibility for agent actions and decisions
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
Agent Not Starting
- Check Permissions: Verify the agent has necessary access rights
- Validate Configuration: Ensure all required settings are configured
- Tool Availability: Confirm all required tools are available
- Resource Limits: Check if resource quotas have been exceeded
Agent Failing Mid-Execution
- Review Error Logs: Check execution logs for error messages
- Validate Data: Ensure input data is in the expected format
- Check External Services: Verify external integrations are working
- Timeout Issues: Consider if tasks are taking too long to complete
Poor Performance
- Optimize Workflow: Simplify or streamline the agent’s steps
- Reduce Complexity: Break complex agents into simpler components
- Update Configuration: Adjust settings based on performance data
- Resource Allocation: Ensure adequate resources are available
Advanced Agent Patterns
Multi-Agent Collaboration
For complex workflows, consider using multiple agents that work together in various collaboration patterns:Sequential Collaboration (Micro-Agent Chaining)
Break large tasks into smaller, focused agents that work in sequence:- Micro-Agent Chaining Overview - Learn the basics of chaining small agents together
- Technical Architecture - Deep dive into micro-agent design patterns
- Performance Monitoring - Track and optimize agent performance
- Multi-User Verification - Distributed approval workflows
- Advanced Use Cases - Creative applications and optimization tips
- Higher accuracy - Smaller, focused tasks produce better results
- Lower costs - Reduced token usage per agent
- Easier maintenance - Modular design for simple updates
- Better reliability - Isolated failure domains
- Flexible verification - Different people can approve different steps
Advanced Collaboration Patterns
For more complex coordination needs:- Agent Collaboration - Comprehensive guide to all collaboration patterns
- Hierarchical Collaboration - Manager-worker patterns with delegation and oversight
- Peer-to-Peer Collaboration - Specialists working together as equals
- Dynamic Collaboration - Self-organizing swarms and emergent workflows
- Sequential (Micro-Agent Chaining): Linear workflows, step-by-step processes
- Hierarchical: Complex coordination, clear authority structures
- Peer-to-Peer: Expert consultation, consensus-building
- Dynamic: High-volume, adaptive scenarios
Related Features
- AI Models - Choose the right AI model for your agents
- AI Tools - Understand the tools agents can use
- Chats - Learn how to create agents from conversations
- Integrations - Connect agents with external services
- Scheduling - Set up automated agent execution
What’s Next?
Ready to start building AI agents? Here’s your roadmap:- Create your first agent from a simple conversation
- Explore agent templates for common use cases
- Learn about scheduling to automate agent execution
- Set up integrations to connect agents with your tools
Need help building agents? Contact our support team or check our FAQ for agent-specific guidance.