Multi-Agent Systems and Sub-Agents

For complex tasks, several specialized agents collaborate and form a multi-agent system. A controlling agent keeps track and delegates subtasks to sub-agents. This chapter explains how the collaboration works in incoreon.

License

Working with agents and sub-agents is included from the Pro license. Integrating sub-agents requires the Builder license as well as management rights for the agent.

What Are Sub-Agents Suited For?

• Splitting research tasks: one sub-agent searches the internet, a second sub-agent checks internal knowledge
• Delegating specialist questions: the controlling agent answers general requests and passes detail questions on to specialized sub-agents
• Having complex tasks broken down into subtasks and the partial results merged into one answer

What Are Sub-Agents and Multi-Agent Systems?

A single agent is good for one clearly defined task. As the task becomes more complex, a collaboration of several agents makes sense.

Sub-agent: A sub-agent is an agent that another agent brings in for a subtask – comparable to delegating to a specialized expert. The controlling agent breaks down the task, distributes the subtasks, and merges the partial results into one answer.

Sub-agent system: A controlling agent and its integrated sub-agents form a sub-agent system.

Multi-agent system: When several specialized agents collaborate, a multi-agent system emerges. The sub-agent system is the central form of a multi-agent system in incoreon.

Integrating Sub-Agents

Sub-agents are integrated in the configuration of the controlling agent in the “Sub-Agents” area – likewise only after the controlling agent has been saved for the first time (see Integrating Sub-Agents). In the “Add sub-agents” dialog, only agents that themselves do not have own sub-agents are available for selection.

Sub-agents do not bring in further sub-agents themselves. An agent that itself has sub-agents can therefore not be integrated as a sub-agent. incoreon shows the note “Agent has its own sub-agents”.

When removing a sub-agent without own usage rights, incoreon warns: “You cannot add this agent back because you lack the permission to do so.”

Watching the Collaboration in the Chat

When the controlling agent brings in a sub-agent during the conversation, a live activity card with the sub-agent's name and the note “is working” appears in the chat. Via “Show all” and “Show less”, the cards can be expanded and collapsed. If a sub-agent cannot be reached, incoreon shows the note “Connection failed”.

Missing Access Rights for Sub-Agents

For a conversation with an agent, the chatting person needs the usage rights for all integrated sub-agents as well. If a usage right is missing, the message cannot be sent. incoreon lists the affected sub-agents under “Missing access rights for the following sub-agents”.

Remedy: select a different agent or ask the administration for access (see Roles and Permissions).

FAQs about Multi-Agent Systems

Can an integrated sub-agent be removed again?

Yes. Via at the end of the row, the sub-agent can be removed. Without own usage rights, incoreon warns beforehand that adding it again will not be possible.

Who manages an agent's sub-agents?

The person with editing rights for the controlling agent. The sub-agents themselves remain unchanged – only the connection between the agents is changed.