> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.cognigy.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quickstart

> Create and chat with an agent in a few minutes.

In this guide, you will create a chat [agent](https://docs.cognigy.com/ai/agents/overview) named `Sam Support` that can help you with questions about the Cognigy platform, and then test it in the interaction panel.

## Prerequisites

* [A Cognigy.AI organization and a Project](https://docs.cognigy.com/ai/administer/installation/access-to-cognigy-ai.md).
* (Optional) Your own large language model (LLM). A new agent includes one, so you don't need to configure it for this tutorial. To use your own, see [LLMs](https://docs.cognigy.com/ai/agents/develop/gen-ai-and-llms/llms).

## Create the agent

**1. Configure the agent**

1. In the navigation menu of the Project, go to **Design > Agent**.

2. In the upper-right corner, click **Add agent**. The **Create new agent** page opens.

3. On the **Configuration** tab, configure the following:

   * **Agent name** — Enter `Sam Support`.

   * **Job** — Enter `Support agent`.

   * **Agent avatar** — Select an avatar.

   * **Instructions** — Enter the following text:

     ```text theme={null}
     You are Sam, a support agent for Cognigy users. Answer questions about how Cognigy works using the Cognigy documentation. If you don't know the answer, say so and don't guess.
     ```

   * **Brand persona** — Keep the preselected persona or select another one. A brand persona is required and sets the voice and tone of the agent. To create your own, see [Brand persona](https://docs.cognigy.com/ai/agents/develop/brand-persona.md).

4. *(Optional)* In the **LLM** section, select your own LLM from the **Model** list.

5. Click **Save**.

**2. Connect the Cognigy documentation MCP server**

1. Go to the **Tools** tab and select **MCP servers**.
2. In the **docs** row, click the ![action menu](https://mintcdn.com/cognigy-15abf2ba/sIAERK2J23A3FpS0/_assets/icons/black-and-white/vertical-ellipsis.svg?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=sIAERK2J23A3FpS0\&q=85\&s=6d2d4d534ed7e5d4ea9442c1c11f87c8) icon and select **Add as direct tools**. This step allows the agent to use the `search_cognigy_documentation` tool to retrieve information from the Cognigy documentation.

## Test the agent

1. In the upper-right corner, click ![interaction panel](https://mintcdn.com/cognigy-15abf2ba/Q072Dtjwk1D-oI5X/_assets/icons/black-and-white/interaction-panel.svg?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Q072Dtjwk1D-oI5X\&q=85\&s=396d18b8ffb57015bba6e214494386b5) to open the interaction panel.
2. In the interaction panel, enter a question about Cognigy, for example, `What is the best way to create a new agent?`.

## Next steps

* Create your own [brand persona](https://docs.cognigy.com/ai/agents/develop/brand-persona.md).
* Add [knowledge](https://docs.cognigy.com/ai/agents/develop/knowledge.md).
* Improve your agent with [tools](https://docs.cognigy.com/ai/agents/develop/tools.md) and [skills](https://docs.cognigy.com/ai/agents/develop/skills.md).