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

# Mission Control

export const AIAgents = () => <>the <strong>AI Agents</strong> icon <span style={{
  whiteSpace: "nowrap"
}}><img src="/images/global-nav/ai-agents.png" width="20" height="20" style={{
  verticalAlign: "text-bottom",
  display: "inline",
  margin: "0 1px"
}} /></span></>;

export const context_engine = "Context Engine";

export const designer = "Designer";

export const mission_control = "Mission Control";

export const maia_agents = "Maia AI Agents";

export const maia = "Maia";

<Badge color="green" shape="pill" stroke size="lg">Public preview</Badge>

{mission_control} provides you with a kanban-style dashboard, where you can create, track, and manage tasks being executed by {maia_agents}.

In {mission_control}, you can chat with {maia_agents} about any of your tasks across any of your projects without needing to navigate between those projects.

{maia_agents} create a new [branch](/docs/guides/branches) for each task in {mission_control}. This branch is based on the source branch you select when [creating the task](#creating-tasks). Once a branch has been created, you can see it in your {maia} project and open it in {designer} to see the work that {maia_agents} have done so far.

When you're talking to {maia_agents} about a task in {mission_control}, each task has its own chat panel. You can switch between tasks and conversations without losing the context of your existing chats with {maia_agents}.

To learn about using {mission_control} alongside other tools such as Slack, read [{mission_control} integrations](/docs/guides/mission-control-integrations).

***

## Video example

Watch this video for an overview of {mission_control} and how to use it to create and manage tasks for {maia_agents}.

<p>
  <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W7HHFcQdKQ4?si=a8Pc8xvs9BdLeBTm&enablejsapi=1" title="Mission Control overview video" frameBorder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share; fullscreen" referrerPolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowFullScreen />
</p>

***

## Viewing tasks

To access {mission_control}, in the left navigation, click <AIAgents />, then **{mission_control}**.

<Note>
  {mission_control} is only visible in the left navigation if the [**Enable AI Agents** permission](/docs/administration/manage-accounts#edit-account-details) is enabled for your account.
</Note>

The {mission_control} board contains four columns. The column title indicates the status of each task on your board:

* **Backlog:** Tasks that have been created but not started.
* **In progress:** Tasks that {maia_agents} are currently working on.
* **Needs attention:** Tasks that require your input—for example, if {maia_agents} have asked a question.
* **Completed:** Tasks that {maia_agents} have finished working on.

<Note>
  A maximum of 10 tasks can be in progress at any time. When there are already 10 tasks in the **In progress** column, the following restrictions apply:

  * **Creating a new task:** You cannot create a new task and tell {maia_agents} to start working on it immediately. You can create the task, but it will be added to the **Backlog** column.
  * **Starting an existing task:** You cannot tell {maia_agents} to start a task in the **Backlog** column. The task will remain in the **Backlog** column.
  * **Responding to {maia_agents}:** Responses to questions from {maia_agents} about tasks in the **Needs attention** column will not be processed, because {maia_agents} cannot continue working on the task.

  To perform any of these actions, you need to wait until fewer than 10 tasks are in progress. You can then tell {maia_agents} to start a task or respond to a question. If doing this means there are 10 tasks in the **In progress** column again, the same restrictions will apply until fewer than 10 tasks are in progress.
</Note>

Above the columns, you can search for tasks by their title, and select any combination of the following options in the **Filter by** drop-down to filter the tasks shown on the {mission_control} board:

* **Projects:** Only show tasks belonging to the selected projects.
* **Source app:** Only show tasks that were created using the selected applications—the {maia} API, {designer}, and/or {mission_control}.
* **Source branch:** Only show tasks that {maia_agents} are working on in branches based on the selected source branch.
* **Period:** In the **Completed** column, only show tasks that were completed in the selected time period. The **Backlog**, **In progress**, and **Needs attention** columns are not affected by this filter.
* **Labels:** Only show tasks with the selected labels. You can add new labels when creating or editing a task.

***

## Creating tasks

To create a new task, either in the backlog or for immediate action:

1. In the **Backlog** column, click **+ Add task**. This opens the **New task** dialog.
2. In the **Project** drop-down, select the project in which you want to work on this task.
3. In the **Branch** drop-down, select the branch that you want {maia_agents} to use as the base for this new task.
4. Select the **Create new branch** checkbox if you want {maia_agents} to create a new branch for this task, based on the branch you selected. If you don't check this box, {maia_agents} will work on the task in the branch you selected.
5. In the **Environment** drop-down, select the environment you want to use as your data warehouse connection.
6. In the **Label** drop-down, select up to five labels to add to this task. To create a new label and add it to this task, enter the new label name and click **Create**.
7. In the **Knowledge Graph** drop-down, select the knowledge graph you want to use for this task. This is the knowledge graph that {maia_agents} will use to inform their work on this task. Knowledge graphs are a way to organize and represent information about your data, projects, and workflows, and selecting the most relevant knowledge graph helps {maia_agents} to work more effectively on your task. Read [{context_engine}](/docs/guides/context-engine) to learn more.
8. In **Prompt**, describe the task that you want {maia_agents} to complete for you. The following controls are also available in the prompt area:
   * Click **+** to [attach an image or PDF](#attaching-images-and-pdfs) and give {maia_agents} additional context.
   * Click **@** to reference an attached file in your prompt.
   * Click **Mode: Act** to select whether {maia_agents} should work on this task in [plan mode](/docs/guides/maia-sessions-and-tools#plan-mode).
   * Click **Ask permission** to select a [permission level](#permission-levels). **Ask permission** is selected by default. If you select **Full access**, click **Bypass permissions** in the confirmation dialog to confirm that you do *not* want {maia_agents} to ask for permission before performing actions.
9. Select one of the following options:
   * Click **Create** to add the new task to the backlog without working on it.
   * Click **Start task** to tell {maia_agents} to start working on it immediately.

Your new task appears in the **Backlog** column. If you clicked **Start task**, the task automatically moves to the **In progress** column (if you don't already have 10 tasks in progress) once {maia_agents} have finished creating the task and assigning it a title.

***

## Working on tasks in Mission Control

The process of working on a task in {mission_control} is made up of four steps:

1. Tell {maia_agents} to start working on a task.
2. Monitor the task and provide any additional information that {maia_agents} need. You may need to do this multiple times, particularly for complex tasks.
3. Review {maia_agents}' work in {designer}.
4. Move the task to the **Completed** column once you're happy with the finished product.

### Starting a task

If you click **Start task** when creating a task, {maia_agents} begin working on this task immediately.

To tell {maia_agents} to start working on a task in the **Backlog** column, click the task. In the **Edit task** dialog, click **Start task**.

### Monitoring a task in progress

While a task is in the **In progress** column, click the task to open the {maia_agents} chat panel about this task. Here, you can:

* See {maia_agents}' progress on the task
* Send a follow-up message to give {maia_agents} additional information
* Switch to [plan mode](/docs/guides/maia-sessions-and-tools/#plan-mode).

### Responding to Maia AI Agents

When {maia_agents} require information from you to work on a task, the task moves to the **Needs attention** column. Click a task to open the chat panel about this task and provide the required information.

{maia_agents} may ask for input in a range of situations, including:

* Asking what you'd like a new table to be called.
* Checking the authentication method you want to use when configuring a connector.
* Asking whether you want to use hardcoded values or a project or pipeline variable.

After you answer any outstanding questions, the task automatically moves back to the **In progress** column until either more information is needed or the task is completed.

### Reviewing Maia AI Agents' work in Designer

You can review the work that {maia_agents} have done when the task is in the **In progress** or **Needs attention** column.

To do this, click the task to open the {maia_agents} chat panel about this task, then:

* If the task is in the **In progress** column, in the top right, click **Open in {designer}**.
* If the task is in the **Needs attention** column, at the bottom of the chat, click **Review in {designer}**.

This opens the branch created for this task in {designer}. Your conversation with {maia_agents} also opens, so you can continue the conversation from {mission_control}. You can work on the branch in {designer} and then return to {mission_control}—{maia_agents} are aware of any changes you've made.

### Completing a task

After you've reviewed the work and are happy with the finished product, mark the task as **Completed** in {mission_control}. To do this, click the task to open its chat panel, then click **Move to completed**.

Completed tasks stay in the **Completed** column of your {mission_control} board until you delete them, or until the **Period** drop-down filters them out. To remove a task from the **Completed** column, [delete the task](#deleting-tasks).

<Note>
  Completing a task in {mission_control} does *not* make any changes to the task branch, or make these changes visible on any other branches. To see these changes in your project, you need to commit, push, and merge the changes from the task branch to the source branch.

  First, [commit](/docs/guides/git-commit) and [push](/docs/guides/git-push) the task branch changes. You can tell {maia_agents} to do this in your conversation in {mission_control} or {designer}, or you can do this yourself in {designer}.

  Next, [merge](/docs/guides/git-merge) the changes from the task branch to the source branch in {designer}. {maia_agents} can't merge changes—this ensures that only reviewed, approved work is merged to your source branch.
</Note>

***

## Auto-starting tasks

Enable the **Auto-start** toggle in the top right of the {mission_control} board to tell {maia_agents} to automatically start tasks.

When **Auto-start** is enabled and you have {maia} open in your browser, {maia_agents} will automatically start working on any tasks that are added to the **Backlog** column of your board, up to the limit of 10 tasks in progress at a time.

***

## Editing tasks

When a task is in the **Backlog** column of your {mission_control} board, you can edit all the configuration options available when you created the task. Once {maia_agents} have started working on a task, you can only change its labels, permission level and mode (**Act** or **Plan**).

To edit a task in the **Backlog** column:

1. Click the task to open the **Edit task** dialog.
2. Make the required changes to the task, as described in [Creating tasks](#creating-tasks).
3. When you're finished, either:
   * Click **Update** to save your changes and leave the task in the **Backlog** column.
   * Click **Start task** to save these changes and tell {maia_agents} to start working on the task (if 10 tasks are not already in progress).

To edit a task in any other column:

1. Click the task to open the {maia_agents} chat panel.
2. To change the task's [permission level](#permission-levels) or [mode](/docs/guides/maia-sessions-and-tools#plan-mode), click the current permission level or mode at the bottom of the chat panel and select a different permission level or mode.
3. To change the task's labels:
   1. Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner, then click **Edit task**.
   2. In the **Label** drop-down, select up to five labels for this task:
      * Select a label to add it to this task.
      * Deselect a selected label to remove it from this task.
      * Type the name of a new label and click **Create** to add a new label to this task.
   3. Click **Finish**.

Changes to a task's permission level and mode are saved immediately. Changes to a task's labels are saved when you click **Finish**.

***

## Attaching images and PDFs

When creating or editing a task, you can attach images and PDFs to the task prompt to give {maia_agents} additional context. {maia_agents} can read the content of your attachments directly and use it to inform their decisions.

You can attach up to five files to each task, provided they meet the following conditions:

* **Images:** `JPEG`, `PNG`, `GIF` or `WebP` files
  * Maximum file size per image file: 5 MB and 8000 x 8000 px
  * Example files: Diagrams, screenshots, mockups, and whiteboard photos
* **PDFs:** Standard `PDF` files
  * Maximum upload size across all attached `PDF` files: 32 MB and 100 pages
  * Example files: Specifications, requirements documents, and reports

<Note>
  Text files (`.txt`, `.md`, etc.) aren't supported as attachments. These file types belong in the project itself, where Maia AI Agents can already read them.
</Note>

To attach a file to a task:

* When creating a task, in the **Prompt** field, click **+**, then click **Attach to conversation**, and then select the file you want to attach.
* When chatting to {maia_agents} about a task in the **Needs attention** column, click **+** in the chat panel, then click **Attach to conversation**, and then select the file you want to attach.

***

## Permission levels

In {mission_control}, you grant {maia_agents} a specific permission level for each task, depending on how independently you want them to work. You can select a permission level when [creating a task](#creating-tasks) and change the permission level granted for a task by [editing the task](#editing-tasks).

Select the appropriate permission level for the task you've asked {maia_agents} to perform, as described below:

* **Ask permission:** This is the default permission level for tasks in {mission_control}. When set to this level, {maia_agents} pause and ask for permission before doing anything other than reading and editing files in your project. Use this level when you want to monitor {maia_agents}' work on a task in detail.
* **Balanced:** When set to this level, {maia_agents} make read-only queries, sample data in your project, and make reversible changes without asking you for permission. They still ask for permission before pushing any changes and running pipelines. Use this level when you're confident that {maia_agents} are working on a safe task that you're happy to check less often.
* **Full access:** When set to this level, {maia_agents} never ask for permission before performing an action. Only use this level for trusted, hands-off tasks such as prototyping or clearing a backlog in a sandbox environment, and make sure that you have scoped your environment accordingly.

***

## Deleting tasks

<Warning>You can't restore a task that has been deleted.</Warning>

You can only delete tasks from the **Backlog** and **Completed** columns of your {mission_control} board. You can't delete tasks that {maia_agents} have started working on.

To delete a task, hover over the task and click the **Delete** icon in the top right of the task. In the **Delete task** dialog, click **Delete**.