> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.cherry-ai.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.cherry-ai.com/docs/en-us/advanced-basic/concepts-101.md). # Concepts for Beginners: Assistant / Agent / Skills / MCP / Channel When you first open Cherry Studio and see terms like "Assistant", "Agent", "Skill", "MCP", and "Channel", you may feel confused — since they are all AI-related features, what exactly is the relationship between them? This page explains it in plain language**the definitions of each concept, the problems they solve, and the scenarios they are suited for**, helping you build a complete understanding of the product. ## Build the big picture at a glance Think of Cherry Studio as a company: * **Model services (Provider)** = the "energy company" that powers employees' brains (model service providers such as OpenAI, Anthropic, DeepSeek, etc.) * **Assistant** = an AI colleague with a fixed persona **AI colleague**, such as a "rigorous code reviewer" or a "professional writing consultant" * **Agent (Cherry Agent)** = an advanced colleague,**with execution capabilities** — able to autonomously read files, consult materials, run commands, and complete multi-step tasks * **Skill** = a "professional capability pack" installed on a colleague, such as "can make PPTs" or "can draft patent applications", ready to use out of the box * **MCP** = a "universal interface" for colleagues to connect**external tools**, which can connect to databases, Notion notes, GitHub, etc. * **Channel** = dispatch a colleague to**Feishu, WeChat, Telegram** and other IM platforms to act as a group bot * **Scheduled tasks** = set up a**duty roster**, and run automatically according to the schedule ## Comparison table: when should you use which? | What you want to do | Recommended | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | | Chat with AI and let it**reply in a certain style**(for example, "gentle and patient" or "professional and rigorous") | **Assistant** | | Let AI **read files on its own**、**execute commands on its own**、**complete multi-step tasks**(for example, "help me organize this project's code and write documentation") | **Agent (Cherry Agent)** | | Want to equip AI with a**specialized skill**("can make Xiaohongshu image/text posts", "can draw flowcharts") | **Skill** | | Let AI be able to**call external tools and services**(query databases, scrape web pages, operate Notion / GitHub, etc.) | **MCP** | | Let my AI **work for colleagues in a Feishu group** | **Channel** | | Let AI **Automatically at 9:00 every morning**make me a news briefing | **Scheduled tasks**(with Agent) | ## Detailed explanation item by item ### 1. Assistant — set a fixed "role" for AI A normal conversation is like a "blank slate"; every time you open a new window, you need to re-explain to the AI, "you are a certain role, please reply in a certain style." **Assistant** This set of "role settings"**permanently saved**, and can be used directly when reopened, avoiding repeated configuration. One assistant = one "system prompt + model parameter preset". * **How to create**: in `+` the Launcher's `assistant library` , click `+ Create Assistant` (fill in the name, prompt, and choose an Emoji), see [assistant library](/docs/en-us/cherry-studio/preview/assistants.md). * **How to use**: at the top of the assistant list on the left side of the main chat page, click`+ Add Assistant`, and start chatting after selecting one, see [conversation](/docs/en-us/cherry-studio/preview/chat.md). * **Feature layering**: assistants can be attached to knowledge bases, skills, or MCP external tools. * **Detailed docs**:[assistant library](/docs/en-us/cherry-studio/preview/assistants.md) ### 2. Agent — giving AI execution capabilities In a normal conversation AI can only "offer suggestions" and cannot actually read files, run commands, or complete specific tasks. **Cherry Agent** is**able to autonomously execute tasks**an advanced AI. You set a goal (for example, "organize all PDFs in this directory into Excel"), and it will automatically break down the steps, call tools, and execute step by step; when problems arise, it can also seek solutions on its own. * **How to use**Top Tab `Agent` → Create an Agent * **Prerequisites**Enable [API server](/docs/en-us/advanced-basic/api-server.md) + configure a [Provider](/docs/en-us/pre-basic/providers.md)(such as [CherryIN](/docs/en-us/pre-basic/providers/cherryin-1.md) / [Anthropic](/docs/en-us/pre-basic/providers/anthropic.md)) * **Detailed docs**:[Agent](/docs/en-us/cherry-studio/preview/agent.md) {% hint style="info" %} **Core differences between Assistant and Cherry Agent**: * Assistant = only capable of**conversation**a colleague * Agent = can**execute tasks**a colleague {% endhint %} ### 3. Skill — installing an "AI professional capability app" An agent itself is smart but is a "generalist". If you often handle a certain kind of specialized task (such as Xiaohongshu image/text posts, PPTs, financial analysis), you can install**the corresponding skill**to enhance it. Analogy:**installing specialized apps on a phone**. WeChat is for communication, Douyin for watching videos; skills are specialized software added to AI. * **How to use**:`Settings → Skills` browse/install, and enable it in Assistant or Agent settings * **Source**: built-in skills + community or official skill marketplace * **Detailed docs**:[Skill](/docs/en-us/advanced-basic/skills.md) ### 4. MCP — AI's "universal interface" Agents need to execute tasks, but AI itself doesn't have the ability to access external resources — **How do you query the company database? How do you operate Notion / GitHub?** **MCP (Model Context Protocol)** is the**unified interface standard**. Developers build tool components according to this standard (called MCP Servers), and AI can then invoke these tools. Analogy: the phone's **USB / Type-C interface** — chargers, USB drives, keyboards, and cameras can all connect because they follow the same interface standard. AI can likewise "connect to" various external tools through MCP. * **How to use**:`Settings → MCP Servers` Add the needed MCP Servers (such as "query Notion", "operate GitHub", "access databases", etc.) * **Available objects**: agents and (some) assistants can be attached to MCP * **Detailed docs**:[MCP tutorial](/docs/en-us/advanced-basic/mcp.md) {% hint style="info" %} **About reading local files**: Cherry Studio already has built-in file upload, knowledge base, and other local file reading capabilities. Normal conversations and assistants can use them directly; MCP is not necessarily required. MCP is more suitable for extending external tools and services that Cherry Studio does not have built in. {% endhint %} {% hint style="info" %} **Differences between Skills and MCP**: * **Skill** = built-in "AI professional capabilities" (how to write, draw, and format) — more on the**software** * **MCP** = letting AI connect to "external tools and data" (read files, query databases, call APIs) — more on the**hardware** Analogy: skills are like**educational background**(decides the way of thinking), MCP is like a**toolbox**(decides the available resources). {% endhint %} ### 5. Channel — connecting AI to IM groups After an agent is configured, it can be inconvenient if you have to open Cherry Studio every time you want to chat.**Channel**Let your agent**stay in a Feishu group**, and group members can trigger a response by @-mentioning it. **Channel**Connect Cherry Agent **to IM platforms**as a bot. Currently supported: Feishu / Telegram / QQ / WeChat / Discord / Slack. * **How to use**: first create an Agent → `Settings → Channel` → choose a platform → fill in that platform's bot credentials * **Detailed docs**:[Channel](/docs/en-us/advanced-basic/agent-channels.md) ### 6. Scheduled tasks — AI's "duty schedule" Suitable for periodic tasks such as "automatically generate yesterday's news briefing every morning at 9" or "summarize the team's workload every Monday".**Scheduled tasks**Let the Agent run automatically according to the schedule, without manual triggering. * **How to use**:`Settings → Scheduled Tasks` → choose Agent + set trigger time + write task prompt * **Detailed docs**:[Scheduled tasks](/docs/en-us/advanced-basic/scheduled-tasks.md) ## Overall relationship (one sentence) > **Provider** Provide model capabilities → **Assistant / Agent** are colleagues with specific roles → through**Skill**acquiring professional skills → through **MCP** connecting external tools → through**Channel**being dispatched to IM platforms → through**Scheduled tasks**running automatically on schedule ## Suggested learning path For first-time use, it is recommended to proceed in the following order: 1. **Step 1**: in `Settings → Model Services` configure one [Provider](/docs/en-us/pre-basic/providers.md), completing the basic chat capability 2. **Step 2**: enter `assistant library` add assistants for common scenarios (such as "translation assistant") and start using them daily 3. **Step 3**Enable [knowledge base](/docs/en-us/knowledge-base/knowledge-base.md), allowing AI to retrieve personal materials 4. **Step 4**: achieve automation → enable [API server](/docs/en-us/advanced-basic/api-server.md) → configure [Agent](/docs/en-us/cherry-studio/preview/agent.md) 5. **Step 5**: advanced capabilities → [MCP](/docs/en-us/advanced-basic/mcp.md) connect tools / [Channel](/docs/en-us/advanced-basic/agent-channels.md) connect IM / [Scheduled tasks](/docs/en-us/advanced-basic/scheduled-tasks.md) run periodically No need to master everything at once; enable them gradually according to your actual needs. *** ### 💡 Get help and submit feedback If you encounter any questions, bugs, or have suggestions for feature improvements during configuration or use, please refer to [Feedback and Suggestions](/docs/en-us/question-contact/suggestions.md) for the official channels provided. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. 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