What are agents?
An agent is an AI assistant you configure to work for you. You give it a name, a personality, an AI model, and tools — then it can chat with you, draft plans, execute tasks, and repeat workflows automatically.
Before executing a task, an agent proposes a step-by-step plan for your review. You approve or reject the plan before any action is taken.
What agents can do
- Answer questions and hold conversations
- Draft step-by-step plans for tasks and wait for your approval
- Execute tasks on a cloud desktop — browsing the web, filling forms, editing files
- Use MCP tools to connect to apps like GitHub, Slack, Google Drive, and others
- Run recorded browser workflows and reusable skills — each run is subject to your approval before execution
- Delegate subtasks to other agents (subagents) — delegation is included in the plan you approve before execution begins
If you configure agents to communicate with third parties — for example, sending emails or submitting forms on your behalf — you are responsible for ensuring those parties are informed they may be interacting with an automated AI system, as required by applicable law in your jurisdiction.
Local agents vs cloud agents
| Local agent | Cloud agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Where stored | Your machine (~/.openclaw/) | MultiClaw Cloud |
| Who can access it | Only you, on that device | Any workspace member with permission |
| Syncs across devices | No | Yes |
| Runs 24/7 | Only while your machine is on | Yes, on a cloud desktop |
Use local agents for personal work you want to keep private. Use cloud agents when your team needs shared access or you want agents running continuously.
Agent personalities
Every agent has a personality — a system prompt that controls how it thinks, responds, and behaves. A personality might say: "You are a senior software engineer who reviews pull requests with a focus on security and clarity."
The personality is optional, but it makes a significant difference. An agent without a personality will be generic. One with a well-written personality will feel purpose-built for your workflow.
Related articles
Create an agent
Build a new agent in minutes using the creation wizard — choose a name, model, personality, and tools.
Set up an agent profile
Edit an agent's name, personality, tools, and subagents from the profile page — and delete the agent when you no longer need it.
Local agents vs cloud agents
Understand the difference between local and cloud agents, when to use each, and why your agent list sometimes looks different.