Using Operator Mode to configure your Knowledge Agent
Operator Mode is a chat-based interface that lets a Knowledge Agent Owner configure and improve their agent by describing what they want in plain language — instead of navigating settings screens. Use it to build and edit skills, update your agent's system prompt, and trace why a specific answer went wrong so you can fix the underlying skill.
Access RequiredYou must be a Knowledge Agent Owner (the
AGENT_MANAGE_SETTINGSpermission) to enter Operator Mode.
Entering Operator Mode
Operator Mode is entered deliberately — it's not auto-detected from a regular chat session.
- Open your Knowledge Agent and navigate to the Chat or Skills page.
- Select the option to enter Operator Mode.
- The interface shifts to a distinct visual state so you always know you're in a privileged session.
An in-session indicator remains visible throughout. Each Operator Mode session starts a fresh thread. When you exit, the agent returns to a standard session with its normal toolset.
NoteWhile you're in Operator Mode, your agent does not run its standard skills. Instead, it uses a separate set of tools for reading and writing skills and the system prompt. This is intentional — you don't want skills executing while you're configuring them.
Building and editing skills
Describe what you want in plain language and the agent drafts or edits the relevant skill in the same thread.
Example: "I want you to be able to answer questions about our leave policy."
The agent proposes a skill or edits an existing one. Before any change is written, you'll see an accept/reject confirmation in chat. Once you accept, the Skills page refreshes in real time to reflect the update.
NoteManual editing of a skill is still available in the Skills UI and does not require Operator Mode. The Skills UI and Operator Mode work alongside each other — not all chat-based edits are mirrored in the UI.
Editing the system prompt
Describe the change you want in plain language. The agent drafts an update to the system prompt and presents it for your review. As with skill edits, every update requires an accept/reject confirmation before it goes live.
Inspecting and fixing a bad answer
Provide a thread ID or Answer ID and ask the agent to walk through why that answer was generated.
The agent traces which skills fired, which cards it pulled, and where the response went wrong. From there, you can ask it to fix the underlying skill. The agent regenerates the answer in a test context — if the new answer is correct, the fix persists so future questions on the same topic get a better response automatically.
Frequently asked questions about Operator Mode
Are changes live immediately?
Yes. Accepted changes persist to the real agent configuration right away. There is no native undo in the current version, though version history exists across agent configuration.
Who can see my Operator Mode threads?
Only you. Each session starts a fresh thread, and Operator Mode threads are visible only to the Owner who created them.
Can I use Operator Mode in the browser extension?
No. Operator Mode is only available in the Guru web app.
Does Operator Mode run my agent's skills?
No. Skills are not executed during an Operator Mode session. The agent uses a separate privileged toolset for reading and writing configuration.
Updated about 9 hours ago