ClickUp's Autopilot Agents (formerly Custom Agents) adapt to changes in your Workspace to autonomously act based on the instructions given. Use our no-code builder to set up Autopilot Agents in multiple Spaces, Folders, Lists, and Chats in your Workspace.
Learn about all our AI features.
AI feature availability and limits vary by plan and user role. Learn more
What is an Autopilot Agent?
You can configure Autopilot Agents (formerly Custom Agents) to respond to certain triggers and perform actions in a specific location.
If you need an Agent to do intelligent work across locations with more flexibility, try building a Super Agent!
An HR Autopilot Agent
The Human Resources (HR) team's Channel gets a lot of questions about employee benefits.
The HR manager wants to use AI to answer employee benefit questions to free up their team's time.
They create an Autopilot Agent in the Channel. They name the Autopilot Agent Benny to make it fun and relevant for employee's asking about their benefits.
The HR manager adds Agent Conditions, so the Autopilot Agent only answers questions specifically about benefits.
| Agent Conditions |
| Only answer questions that are specifically about employee benefits. Do not respond to any other questions, or statements that aren't explicitly or implicitly asking about employee benefits. |
The HR manager gives the Autopilot Agent the following instructions:
| Instructions |
| You are an HR benefits specialist, fully aware of our benefits package and options. You can answer specific questions about those options, in general, and as applicable to most employees. Benefits may vary, so if there are conflicting statements in the question, mention @HR-team-leads. |
In the Knowledge section, the HR manager gives the Autopilot Agent access to the Benefits Doc where employee benefits are explained in detail.
The Autopilot Agent comes with the required default tools toolset. The HR manager doesn't need to add other tools for their Autopilot Agent to answer questions.
Create an Autopilot Agent
To build an Autopilot Agent:
- Open the Space, Folder, or List where you want to create the Autopilot Agent. Or, from Chat, open the Channel.
- In ClickUp 4.0, you'll do this from your Home Sidebar or Spaces Sidebar.
- In ClickUp 3.0, you'll do this from the Sidebar.
- In the upper-right corner, click the Automate button or the lightning bolt icon.
- From the Automation Modal, click New Automation.
- From the Action dropdown, search for Autopilot Agents.
- Select Launch Autopilot Agent.
- Configure your Autopilot Agent's Triggers, Conditions, Knowledge, and Tools.
- You can name your Autopilot Agent and enter a description.
- In the lower-right corner, click Create.
- Test and start using your new Autopilot Agent!
Configure Autopilot Agent settings
Configure a Autopilot Agent's Triggers, Conditions, Actions, Instructions, Knowledge, and Tools.
What are Autopilot Agent Triggers
Autopilot Agent Triggers are very similar to Automation Triggers. They allow you to launch an Autopilot Agent when specific events occur.
Autopilot Agents added to Channels have different Triggers available than Autopilot Agents added to Lists, Folders, or Spaces.
For example, Autopilot Agents added to locations can be triggered by events occurring on tasks, subtasks, or both. Autopilot Agents added to Channels can only take action on messages in the Channel.
The Every... On a schedule Trigger always applies to tasks and subtasks.
Some triggers:
- Allow you to specify Agent Conditions.
- Allow you to use Automation Conditions.
- Automatically add required and optional tools. You can edit the optional tools before or after creating an Autopilot Agent.
Select a Trigger
To select a Trigger:
- On the left side of the Autopilot Agent builder, click the dropdown under the Trigger section.
Available Triggers
This table describes the triggers available for Autopilot Agents and the tools that allow them to perform the specified Action:
| Trigger | Description of the Trigger and its required tool | Trigger options | Locations Trigger is available |
|
All immediate subtasks resolved |
When any first-level subtasks are updated to a closed status, the Autopilot Agent posts a comment in the subtasks' parent tasks. This Trigger doesn't work when nested subtasks are resolved. |
None |
Spaces Folders Lists |
|
Assignee added |
When the selected assignee or assignees are assigned to a task, the Autopilot Agent posts a comment in the subtasks' parent tasks. If you select multiple assignees as the trigger, adding one of the assignees will trigger the Autopilot Agent. |
None |
Spaces Folders Lists |
|
Assignee removed |
When the selected assignee or assignees are unassigned from a task, the Autopilot Agent posts a comment in the subtasks' parent tasks. | None |
Spaces Folders Lists |
|
Comment is added |
When a comment is added to a task, the Autopilot Agent replies to the comment in a thread. | None |
Spaces Folders Lists |
|
Custom field changes |
When the value of a task's Custom Field changes, the Autopilot Agent posts a comment to that task. This tool can analyze Custom Fields from several locations simultaneously. |
Field dropdown: Click to select the Custom Field. From dropdown: Click to select the value that will change. To dropdown: Click to select the value that the Custom Field will change to. |
Spaces Folders Lists |
|
Date is before/after |
When the date is a specified number of hours, days, or weeks before or after the task's start or due date, the Autopilot Agent posts a comment to that task. | None |
Spaces Folders Lists |
|
Due date changes |
When the task's due date changes, the Autopilot Agent posts a comment to that task. | None |
Spaces Folders Lists |
|
Every... On a schedule |
When the specified day and time arrive, the Autopilot Agent posts a message in this Channel. |
Repeat: Select a schedule for the Action to repeat. At: Select a time for the Action to take place. Starts: Select a day for the schedule to begin. To show more settings, click Advanced. Choose from these advanced settings:
|
Channels Spaces Folders Lists |
|
Existing task or subtask added here |
When a task or subtask is added to this location from another location, the Autopilot Agent posts a comment to that task or subtask. | None |
Spaces Folders Lists |
|
Existing task or subtask moved here |
When a task or subtask is moved to this location from another location, the Autopilot Agent posts a comment to that task or subtask. | None |
Spaces Folders Lists |
| Message is posted | When a message is posted in this Chat Channel, the Autopilot Agent posts a message in a thread. | None | Channels |
|
Priority changes |
When a task's priority changes, the Autopilot Agent posts a comment to that task. | None |
Spaces Folders Lists |
| Start date changes | When the task's start date changes, the Autopilot Agent posts a comment to that task. | None |
Spaces Folders Lists |
| Status changes | When a task's status changes, the Autopilot Agent posts a comment to that task. |
From dropdown: Click to select the status that will change. To dropdown: Click to select the status that the task will change to. |
Spaces Folders Lists |
|
Tag added |
When a Tag is added to a task, the Autopilot Agent posts a comment to that task. |
By default, the Autopilot Agent will be triggered when any Tag is added. Tag dropdown: Click to select a specific Tag. |
Spaces Folders Lists |
|
Tag removed |
When a Tag is removed from a task, the Autopilot Agent posts a comment to that task. |
By default, the Autopilot Agent will be triggered when any Tag is removed. Tag dropdown: Click to select a specific Tag. |
Spaces Folders Lists |
| Task or subtask created | When a task or subtask is created in the Autopilot Agent's location, the Autopilot Agent posts a comment to that task. |
By default, any task or subtask created in this location will trigger the Autopilot Agent. Created by dropdown: Click to deselect certain task-creation methods. |
Spaces Folders Lists |
| Task or subtask linked | When a task or subtask is linked to or from a task, the Autopilot Agent posts a comment to the task or subtask in its location. | None |
Spaces Folders Lists |
| Task or subtask unblocked | When a task or subtask is unblocked, the Autopilot Agent posts a comment to that task or subtask. | None |
Spaces Folders Lists |
| Task type changes | When the task type changes, the Autopilot Agent posts a comment to that task. |
From dropdown: Click to select the task type that will change. To dropdown: Click to select the type that the task will change to. |
Spaces Folders Lists |
Add Agent Conditions
Agent Conditions are required for every Trigger other than the Every... On a schedule Trigger.
To add Agent Conditions:
- On the left side of the Autopilot Agent builder, type a prompt into the field.
The following table provides tips for configuring the Autopilot Agent's Conditions:
| Autopilot Agent prompting tips |
|
Type a prompt telling the Autopilot Agent when or when not to act. Be as specific as possible. Use natural language. Identify instances when you wouldn't want the Autopilot Agent to act. Be as specific as possible. Explain to the Autopilot Agent what to do if it can't perform the specified action. Be as specific as possible. |
Add Automation Conditions
Below the Agent Trigger, click the plus icon to add one or more Automation Conditions.
Your Agent will only run when these Conditions are met.
Autopilot Agent Actions
Autopilot Agents include several helpful Actions.
The primary Action is Launch Autopilot Agent which allows you to fully customize the Instructions, Knowledge, and Tools for your Autopilot Agent.
Available Autopilot Agent Actions
The following table describes the available Autopilot Agent Actions:
| Autopilot Agent Action | Description |
| Launch Autopilot Agent | Create a custom Autopilot Agent. |
| Create docs with AI | Create a Doc using AI. This option prefills the Agent instructions based on the location. |
| Create task with AI | Create a task using AI. This option prefills the Agent instructions based on the location. |
| Create subtask with AI | Create a subtask using AI. This option prefills the Agent instructions based on the location. |
| Edit Custom Field with AI | Update a Custom Field using AI. This option prefills the Agent instructions based on the location. |
Instructions
Instructions tell your Autopilot Agent what to do. Instructions are always required.
You can use Brain to help craft the instructions for your Autopilot Agent, or refer our prompting best practices.
To configure Instructions:
- On the right side of the Autopilot Agent builder, type a prompt into the field.
The following table provides tips for reconfiguring the Autopilot Agents' Instructions:
| Autopilot Agent Instructions prompting tips |
|
@mention any people, tasks, Docs, locations, Custom Fields, or Chats you want the Autopilot Agent to review directly into your conditions. You can tell it to search these sources, or to search these sources before any others. Let the Autopilot Agent know what format you'd like the reply in. It's very effective to provide a template for the Autopilot Agent to use when responding. |
Configure Knowledge
Customize the knowledge available to each Autopilot Agent.
Add knowledge sources
To add locations, items, and external apps to an Autopilot Agent's available knowledge, from the Autopilot Agent builder:
-
From the Workspace Access section:
- Click Add from Spaces.
- Or click Add task, Doc, Chat.
-
From the External Search section:
- Click the toggles to activate or deactivate external sources.
- Or click Connect an app.
Knowledge sources
The following table describes the knowledge sources available to an Autopilot Agent:
| Section | Option | Description |
| Workspace Access | All public Spaces |
This option is required to enable the Autopilot Agent to find information from anywhere in your Workspace. With only this option enabled, the Autopilot Agent won't have access private locations, tasks, or Docs. |
| Add from Spaces | Click and select individual public Spaces, Folders, or Lists. You can select private locations. | |
| Add task, Doc, Chat | Click and select tasks, Docs, and Chats. You can select private locations. | |
| External Search | GPT-4.1 | This is required for Autopilot Agent to provide responses. |
| ClickUp Help Center | This enables the Autopilot Agent to answer questions about how to use ClickUp from our Help Center articles. | |
| Apps | Other apps you've added to ClickUp with Connected Search. |
Remove Knowledge sources
From the Autopilot Agent builder, you can click a toggle to deactivate knowledge sources that are not required.
Removing knowledge sources may cause the Autopilot Agent to be less helpful.
For example, if you deselect the Channel where Autopilot Agent replies, it will still be able to post in the Channel, but it can't search the Channel to formulate its response.
Add or remove Tools
Tools enable Autopilot Agents to perform different jobs for you. Toolsets are curated packs of tools designed to give Agents the necessary capabilities for specific use cases.
Autopilot Agents are always given a required toolset called Default tools. It includes the tools required for the Autopilot Agent to perform basic actions.
Add a tool
You can add toolsets or individual tools to allow your Autopilot Agent to perform more actions according to its Instructions.
To add a tool:
- On the right side of the Autopilot Agent builder, click Add tool.
Remove a tool
To remove a tool:
- Hover over a Tool that is not required.
- In the upper-right corner, click the trash can icon.
Test an Autopilot Agent
You should test your Autopilot Agent. This is particularly true of complex Autopilot Agents.
As you improve your Autopilot Agent, we recommend making one change at a time rather than several at once.
We recommend testing the Agent on a task or message containing representative test data, rather than a task where someone is doing real work.
To test the Autopilot Agent, trigger it and see if it acts in the ways you instructed it to.
Update an Autopilot Agent
To update an existing Autopilot Agent
- Open the location where the Autopilot Agent was created.
- In the upper-right corner, click the Automation or lightning bolt icon.
- Click Manage Automations.
- Browse to find the Autopilot Agent.
If not, you can improve your Agent by following these tips:
- Ensure your instructions are clear. Use Brain to help you, and follow our prompting best practices.
- Be very clear when telling the Autopilot Agent when not to trigger. Combine Agent Conditions and Automation Conditions.
- Include examples of messages that it should respond to.
- Add an example of how you would like it to respond.
- Delete any ambiguous or redundant sentences.
- Look at the Knowledge section. Does the Autopilot Agent have access to the right information?
- Look at the Tools section. Does the Autopilot Agent have the tools it needs to carry out your instructions?
Help us make Autopilot Agents better
Don't forget to upvote or downvote based on the quality of the agent's responses!
Deactivate an Autopilot Agent
To deactivate an Autopilot Agent:
- Open the location where the Autopilot Agent was created.
- In the upper-right corner, click the Automation or lightning bolt icon.
- Click Manage Automations.
- Browse to find the Autopilot Agent.
- Click the toggle to deactivate the Autopilot Agent.