Core Docs - Core Concepts - Configure an Agent

Rock Version: v20.0
Last Modified: 2026-07-15 1:54 PM

This is where an agent takes shape. You give it a name, a purpose and the boundaries that keep it on track. Agents are configured under Admin Tools > Settings > AI Agents.

Before configuring your first agent, set your organization context under Settings on the same page. That context applies to every agent you build, so it's worth doing once up front. See Setting Your Organization Context for details.

Agent Settings

To add a new Agent, select ti ti-robot Agents then click ti ti-square-plus.

Type

Chat agents live inside Rock. Staff access them through the docked chat panel, which you an access from anywhere in Rock by clicking the ti ti-sparkles agent button. This is the right starting point for most organizations.

MCP agents connect Rock to an external AI tool running on someone's computer, like Claude Desktop. Once connected, that tool can look up records and take actions in Rock using the person's own security permissions. See Set Up an MCP Agent for the full walkthrough.

Audience

Audience is one of the most important decisions you'll make for each agent.

Instructions

Instructions are where you shape how the agent behaves. Think of it as a short onboarding note: tell the agent how to act, what to prioritize and what to avoid.

A few things worth including:

Keep it short. A long list of rules is harder to follow consistently than a clear set of priorities. Start simple and add only when you notice a real gap. Only add what's needed.

Testing

Before sharing an agent with your team, test it yourself, more than once. AI doesn't produce identical results every run, so test your most important prompts at least a few times and look for consistency.

Also test as the people who will use it. Log in as a volunteer and try it. If the agent surfaces something that person shouldn't see, the fix is in your Rock security, not the agent configuration.