Overview
Configuration is where you define your knowledge agent’s personality, behavior, and first impression. These settings shape how your agent communicates and what users expect when they start a conversation. All configuration happens in the Introduction and Sample Questions tabs of the knowledge agent builder.System Instructions (The Most Important Setting)
System instructions are the “brain” of your knowledge agent. This is where you define:- Who the agent is
- What it does
- How it should behave
- When to use tools
- What boundaries exist
Anatomy of Good System Instructions
Structure:Example: Research Assistant
Example: Marketing Assistant
Example: Development Assistant
Tips for Writing System Instructions
Be specific about tools:Welcome Message
The welcome message is the first thing users see when they open a chat with your agent. It should:- Set expectations for what the agent can do
- Show personality/tone
- Encourage engagement
- Include a clear call-to-action
Good Welcome Messages
Research Assistant:Welcome Message Best Practices
Do:- List specific capabilities (not vague “I can help”)
- Use bullet points for scannability
- Match your brand tone (professional, friendly, technical, etc.)
- End with a question to prompt engagement
- Write long paragraphs
- Make promises you can’t keep
- Use overly formal or stiff language (unless that’s your brand)
- Forget to mention key capabilities
Prompt Hint
The prompt hint appears in the input field as placeholder text. It guides users on what to ask or how to phrase requests.Effective Prompt Hints
Examples:Best Practices
Be specific:Sample Questions
Sample questions appear as clickable buttons when users first see your agent. They:- Show what the agent can do
- Provide examples of how to phrase requests
- Make it easy to get started (no typing needed)
- Set expectations for complexity
How to Write Sample Questions
Make them specific and actionable:Sample Questions Format
In the builder, enter one question per line:Prompt Filtering (Content Moderation)
Prompt filtering helps prevent misuse of your agent. You can set content guidelines that the agent will follow.When to Use Prompt Filtering
Use filtering when your agent:- Is public and could be misused
- Handles sensitive topics
- Should stay on-topic
- Needs to avoid certain subjects
Example Filters
Stay on-topic:Where to Add Filtering
Include filtering rules in your System Instructions:Configuration Templates by Use Case
Personal Clone / Expert Assistant
Collaborative Builder
Domain Expert Tool
Testing Your Configuration
After setting up your configuration:- Start fresh conversation - Test the welcome message
- Click sample questions - Verify they work as expected
- Test prompt hint - Does it guide users appropriately?
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Test system instructions:
- Does the agent stay in character?
- Does it use tools when appropriate?
- Does it follow the workflow you defined?
- Does it respect boundaries?
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Test edge cases:
- Ask off-topic questions (does filtering work?)
- Request things outside capabilities (does it admit limitations?)
- Give ambiguous requests (does it ask clarifying questions?)
Common Configuration Mistakes
Next Steps
Now that you understand configuration:Add Knowledge
Train your agent with domain expertise
Enable Tools
Give your agent action-taking capabilities
Best Practices
Learn advanced prompt engineering techniques
Troubleshooting
Fix common configuration issues
Remember: Configuration is iterative. Start with a basic setup, test with real users, and refine based on what works. Your system instructions will evolve as you learn how users interact with your agent.

