Work with agents
Give clear tasks, pick how the agent works, correct it while it runs and hand work between chats.
On this page
Give a clear task#
Say what you want, what to use, the limits, where to save it and how you will judge it. Keep decisions that should last in a file, such as brief.md, so any later chat can read them.
Outcome: [what to make]
Inputs: [files or linked folders]
Limits: [length, format, style, budget]
Save to: [folder or file]
Done when: [what you will check]
Ask me before: [decisions you want to make]Choose how the agent works#
The message box has a model picker, a thinking level and a mode button that reads Auto, Plan or Ask.
| Control | Use it when |
|---|---|
| Model | Pick the agent and model for the job. See which agent suits what. |
| Thinking | Raise it for hard planning or debugging. |
| Plan | You want to see the approach first. The agent changes nothing until you choose Approve or Hand off. |
| Ask | You want the agent to ask before protected actions, such as running a command. |
| Auto | The task is clear and the agent should work without stopping for approval. |
Two different kinds of mode
VideoDraft mode and Code mode set up the whole app for video or software. Auto, Plan and Ask set how one chat’s agent works. You can plan a video or run a code task on Auto.
Steer, queue or stop#
| Action | Example |
|---|---|
| Steer | “Keep the red scarf.” Your message goes into the work that is running now. |
| Queue | “After this, make a vertical version.” Your message waits until the current turn ends. |
| Stop | End the current work, then look at what it finished before you continue. |
Choose which one happens by default in Settings > General > Follow-up while streaming. The message box shows the shortcut for the other one, such as Cmd + Enter to steer. Slash commands always wait in the queue.
Plan first, then hand off#
- 1Set the mode button to Plan and describe the task.
- 2When the bar says Plan ready, open the plan and read it.
- 3Choose Approve to build it in this chat, or Hand off to start a new chat that builds it. A new chat shares the task’s files but starts a fresh conversation.
- 4In any new, empty chat, the Add plans and Add chat transcripts chips above the message box attach earlier plans or chats as files.
Run work side by side#
- 1Keep one deliverable and its revisions in one task.
- 2Start another task for separate work. For a video, one task can explore shots while another prepares sound.
- 3Start a new chat for a reviewer or a different agent. Say whether it should only look or also edit.
- 4Link only the folders a task needs.
Shared folders are not locked
A task opened with Isolated workspaces has its own copy of the files. Everything else is shared: if two agents edit the same file or .vdproject, one can overwrite the other. Say which chat edits what.
Keep long chats on track#
The small ring in the message box shows how much more the chat can hold. Hover it for details. This is separate from usage limits and credits. Type /compact to have the agent summarize the chat and make room.
Before you move to a new chat, ask the agent for a short handoff note: the goal, the decisions made, the files, what is done and the next step.
To reuse a decision from another chat, just ask. Agents can search and read your other chats.
Find the chat where we picked the character design and use that reference here. Tell me if any later chat changed it.Go back or try again#
A turn is one message and the agent’s full reply. Hover a turn to see its actions.
| Action | What it does |
|---|---|
| Copy | Copies the turn. |
| Fork | Fork to new tab or Fork to new task starts a new chat from this point, with the earlier chat attached. |
| Reset to this point | Rolls the task’s files back to this turn and removes later turns. See what Reset can undo. |
| Retry | On a failed turn, runs it again. |
| Continue | On a turn you stopped, picks up where it left off. |
Check the result#
- Look at the real file or running page, not only the agent’s summary.
- For code, read the diff and the checks. For video, watch the whole exported file.
- Write down the chosen direction and what is left.
- Start a fresh chat when the goal changes, and bring only what it needs.