Automation — Scheduled Tasks
Access the Scheduled Tasks screen (
/scheduled-tasks) from the sidebar.
Execute automated assistant sessions based on Cron expressions or fixed intervals.
Create a New Task
- Open Scheduled Tasks and click New task (or Create your first task).
- For instant setup, select one of the provided Starter Templates (such as Daily Standup Summary, Code Review Digest, or Daily durable knowledge distillation) to pre-fill configuration fields. You can also create the nightly knowledge-distill task in one click from the Chat Hub tip (Create nightly distill task).
- Configure the task fields in the New Scheduled Task dialog:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Task name | Display name shown in the task list. |
| Assistant | The assistant profile assigned to execute the task. |
| Schedule | Recurrence rules and execution times (UI schedule picker or Cron). |
| Workspace | Optional target folder. Click Browse or drag-and-drop a folder. |
| Message | The prompt sent when the task runs. Supports @playbook:, @skill:, and @file: mentions. |
- Click Save. The task card displays the Next run timestamp.
Disabled tasks remain in the list without triggering scheduled runs.
Edit or Delete Tasks
Click Edit Task or Delete Task on any task card.
If Scheduled Task Minimum Interval is configured under Settings, short schedules that violate this limit will be rejected to protect system resources.
Comparison of Automation Mechanisms
| Automation Type | Execution Context |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Tasks (This Screen) | App-wide, recurring, background cron jobs |
@skill:loop | In-session clock loops, periodic reminders, and polling |
@skill:call-me-back | Resumes sessions upon external process or webhook completion signals |
@skill:schedule | Procedural instructions guiding the agent to manage schedules |
| Org / Teamwork | Explicit hierarchical teams shown in the sidebar Org view |
| delegate / divide-conquer | Immediate child session delegation during active conversations |
For details on orchestrating multiple agents, refer to the Sub-Agents & Orchestration Guide.
Best Practices
- Define explicit output formats and deliverables inside the task prompt.
- When tasks require MCP tools, install them via Extensions and enable them in the target assistant's tool permissions.
- Inspect execution logs in session History if a scheduled task fails.
- Workspace overrides confine execution to specific folders. Background session callbacks do not clear a pinned chat session's workspace override when the scheduled task field is empty.
Related Documentation
- Scheduled Tasks Reference — Scheduling options and syntax
- Assistants Guide — Configure dedicated automation personas
- Playbooks Guide — Save repeatable session playbooks
- Sub-Agents & Orchestration Guide — Multi-agent coordination patterns
- Troubleshooting Guide — Diagnose background task failures