Agent Skills
A skill is a reusable instruction set for the Global Agent. Give it a name, a description that signals when to apply it, and the instructions the agent should follow. The Global Agent activates a skill automatically when your request matches its description, so the same analytical approach applies consistently every time you ask a relevant question.
Use skills when you want the agent to handle a specific task the same way each time. For example, specify what metrics to include in a retention summary or how to interpret a funnel drop-off. For recurring workflows that run unattended on a schedule and deliver findings to Slack or email, use Custom Agents instead.Two meanings of 'skill' in Amplitude
Amplitude uses "skill" in two distinct contexts. This page covers in-app skills: instruction sets you create in the Amplitude web app and make available to the Global Agent. The Amplitude MCP Marketplace also uses "skill" to describe open-source recipe files that external AI clients such as Claude Code or Cursor trigger automatically. These are different surfaces with separate setup workflows.When to use skills vs. Custom Agents
Skills and Custom Agents are separate primitives that serve different purposes.
| Skills | Custom Agents | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A named instruction set the agent applies on demand | A saved, schedulable configuration with its own model, tools, and delivery destinations |
| When to use | Consistent behavior for a recurring question type | Automated, scheduled workflows that run unattended |
| How it runs | The agent selects it automatically based on your request | Manually, or on a recurring schedule |
| Where results appear | In the chat window | In Amplitude, Slack, or email |
Open the Skills panel
Access the Global Agent chat through the floating button in the lower-right corner of the screen, the Chat option in the left navigation bar, or the keyboard shortcut ⌘+Shift+K on Mac / Ctrl+Shift+K on Windows and Linux.
- In a Global Agent chat, click the plus sign (+).
- Select Skills > Manage Skills.
Amplitude labels the panel "Skills / Specialized capabilities available to AI." The panel lists all available skills, including built-in skills such as "Create Custom Agent," which you can't edit or delete. Each skill you create has Edit and Delete controls.
Create a skill
- Open the Skills panel and click New Skill.
- Fill in the required fields.
- Click Create Skill to save.
Create Skill stays inactive until you fill in all required fields.
Name
Enter a short, descriptive name for the skill.
Description
Write a description that tells the agent when to use this skill. The Global Agent matches your request against each skill's description to decide which skill, if any, to activate. Write the description around the situations where the skill applies, not just what the skill does.
For example, "Use when asked to analyze a conversion funnel, investigate a drop-off step, or compare funnel performance across user segments" is more useful than a label like "Funnel analysis."
Instructions
Write the instructions the agent follows when the skill is active. Be specific about the goal, the analytical approach, and the Amplitude metrics, events, or segments relevant to this skill. More specific instructions produce more consistent results.
Scope
Scope controls who can use the skill.
- User (default): The skill is private to you.
- Org: Everyone in your organization can use the skill.
Set scope to Org to share the skill across your team.
How skills activate
The Global Agent activates a skill when your request matches its description. You don't invoke a skill with a command. The agent selects the best match and applies the skill's instructions to your request.
Manage skills
From the Skills panel, click Edit on any skill you created to update its name, description, instructions, or scope. Click Delete to remove the skill.
You can't edit or delete built-in skills.
How skill permissions work
A skill runs with your data-access permissions. The agent reaches only the data you already have access to in Amplitude. Administrators can review AI activity across the organization in AI Controls.Was this helpful?