Start with a Bot and clear instructions
Grok Bot is an AI agent that works in apps and on a cloud computer. Create a Bot by choosing New Bot, giving it a name and picture, and selecting Create. In the first message, define its job, sources and approval boundaries, and ask it to remember them.
Grok Bot differs from the Grok chat assistant and Grok Build, xAI's coding CLI.
Give Grok Bot rules and preferences
Use chat to tell the Bot lasting rules and ask it to remember them. Keep task-specific instructions in ordinary messages. Each Bot has its own memory for preferences, rules, facts and a dated work log.
Ask the Bot to remember, correct or forget information. For changing facts such as prices, ask it to look them up again rather than rely on stored memory.
Attach files and explain how to use them
Attach files with the attachment control, drag them into the composer, or paste images and links. Supported inputs include images, audio, video, PDF and plain-text documents, Word, Excel and PowerPoint files, structured data, code, HTML, email files and notebooks. Desktop messages allow up to 20 attachments, with each document, audio file or other file up to 250 MB.
Tell the Bot what every attachment contains and how it should use it. Large, encrypted, damaged or unusual files may not be readable, so xAI suggests exporting unusual formats as PDF, CSV, plain text or an image.
Turn repeated work into skills
A skill is a reusable set of instructions for completing a task. It can hold steps, decision rules, expected output and safety boundaries. Skills are available across Bots, although a Bot may need the relevant app or login. A useful skill states when to use it, required inputs and access, workflow steps, validation, output and approvals.
Ask the Bot to preserve a completed method as a named skill with its sources, rules, output format and safety boundary. Demonstrate a browser workflow once, review the generated skill and test it on a safe example. A demonstration records visible computer interaction for up to ten minutes but not microphone audio.
Set routines with narrow triggers
A routine tells one Bot when to run a workflow, either on a schedule or after an event. Define the owning Bot, schedule and time zone, input source, expected result, approval boundary and behavior when a source is missing. Routines run in the cloud while the laptop is closed.
Supported event triggers include Slack messages, GitHub, Linear, Sentry and PagerDuty events, email to the Bot's own address and webhook calls. Keep event listeners narrow because broad triggers can create noise, consume usage and lead to irrelevant actions.
Connect apps and custom MCP servers
Connect apps through Connect apps, authorize the provider sign-in, confirm the app is installed, and attach it in chat with @. An app marked Added is installed but may still require authentication.
Custom connectors can use Remote HTTPS with a server URL, optional HTTP headers and an OAuth Client ID, or a command with arguments. A Bot can also add an MCP server by URL or command. Private-network servers and servers using a private certificate authority require approval, and an administrator's MCP policy can block a custom server.
Where KnowMan fits
Add the hosted KnowMan MCP server as a custom Remote HTTPS connector with the URL https://api.knowman.io/mcp. The server supports OAuth sign-in or an Authorization: Bearer <key> header.
Once connected, ask the Bot to search your saved reading, ask a question about it, or save a URL. KnowMan provides six MCP tools for search, asking questions, reading saved items, saving links, finding recent items and reading memories. See MCP server knowledge bases and connecting AI to your notes.
Questions people ask
How do I teach Grok Bot my rules?
Send lasting rules in chat and ask the Bot to remember them. Put task-specific instructions in ordinary messages.
Can Grok Bot use files?
Yes. Attach files with the attachment control, drag them into the composer, or paste images and links. Explain what each attachment contains and how the Bot should use it.
What is the difference between a skill and a routine?
A skill contains reusable instructions for performing a task. A routine tells one Bot when to run a workflow, either on a schedule or when an event occurs.
Can Grok Bot search my KnowMan library?
The documented setup is to add https://api.knowman.io/mcp as a custom Remote HTTPS MCP server, then use OAuth or a Bearer API key. KnowMan provides search, question answering and tools for reading saved items and memories.