Bot builder

Build a Bot for your job

Pick a job and answer a few questions. You get six pieces to copy into Grok Bot.

Here is every Bot the builder makes, with its starting answers. Swap the words in [square brackets] for your own.

Watch competitors or a topic

A Bot that reads public pages and tells you what's new, or only what changed.

Leave it empty and the messages keep a blank in [square brackets] for you to fill in.

What should it look for?

How often should it check?

  1. Name

    News Watch

    Click New chat, type this name and click Create “name” Bot. Lesson: create your Bot

  2. Standing job

    Set your description to this: You watch [the companies or the topic] and tell me what's new. Use public pages only: their own websites and blogs, and public news sites. Give me five bullets at most, each with a link to its source. Never sign in to a site, contact anyone or post anything. If a page asks for a login, stop and tell me. Then show me the description exactly as saved.

    Send this in the new Bot's chat. The Bot saves it and repeats it back. If the reply doesn't match, send it again. Lesson: tell the Bot its standing job

  3. First task

    Right now, give me a five-bullet digest of this week's news about [the companies or the topic]. Use public news sites and the companies' own blogs only, with a source link on each bullet.

    Send this next, in the same chat. It uses public pages, so nothing needs connecting. Lesson: a first task that needs no plugin

  4. Plugins

    Nothing to connect. The Bot reads public pages in the browser on its own computer.

    If a page you want watched sits behind a login, send this and sign in yourself when the Bot asks.

    Open [the site's address] in your browser and ask me to sign in when you reach the login page.

    Lesson: logins and CAPTCHAs

  5. Ask first rule

    send an email or post a message anywhere

    In Settings > General, under Custom Rules, type this beside When Grok Bot wants to:, set It should: to Ask first and click Add Rule. Lesson: write a rule of your own

  6. Routine

    Set up a routine: every Monday at 9:00 AM, post the same kind of digest in this chat, covering what's new since your last run. If nothing is new, say so in one line.

    Send this once the first task has come back the way you want. The Bot answers with a Created routine line. That's 1 run a week. Lesson: ask for a routine in chat Pick how often it runs

Prepare notes before meetings

A Bot that reads your calendar and writes notes on each company you're about to meet.

Which calendar do you use?

How do you want the notes?

When should the notes arrive?

  1. Name

    Meeting Prep

    Click New chat, type this name and click Create “name” Bot. Lesson: create your Bot

  2. Standing job

    Set your description to this: You prepare me for meetings with people outside my company. Read my calendar to see who I'm meeting, then use each company's public website and public news only. Give me one page of notes per meeting, as a file, with a link for every fact. Never contact anyone, and never create or change a calendar event. Ask me before you sign in to any site. Then show me the description exactly as saved.

    Send this in the new Bot's chat. The Bot saves it and repeats it back. If the reply doesn't match, send it again. Lesson: tell the Bot its standing job

  3. First task

    I have an intro call with [company] ([their website]) tomorrow. From their public website only, write one page of prep notes: what they sell, who it's for, pricing in one line, three recent items from their blog or changelog, and five questions I should ask. Save the notes as a file and share it here.

    Put a company you're about to meet in the brackets and send this next, in the same chat. Nothing needs connecting. Lesson: a first task that needs no plugin

  4. Plugins

    Connect Google Calendar in Connect apps before you ask for the routine. The first task doesn't need it.

    No plugin for your calendar? Send this, and sign in yourself when the Bot asks.

    Open [your calendar's web address] in your browser and ask me to sign in when you reach the login page.

    Lesson: connect a plugin Find your app

  5. Ask first rules

    send an email or post a message anywhere

    create, change or cancel a calendar event

    Add each line as its own rule. In Settings > General, under Custom Rules, type it beside When Grok Bot wants to:, set It should: to Ask first and click Add Rule. Lesson: write a rule of your own

  6. Routine

    Set up a routine: every weekday at 4:30 PM, read my calendar for the next working day. For each meeting with someone outside my company, write the same kind of prep notes and post them in this chat. If there are no outside meetings, say so in one line.

    Connect the calendar first, then send this once the first task has come back the way you want. The Bot answers with a Created routine line. That's 5 runs a week. Lesson: ask for a routine in chat Pick how often it runs

Keep an inbox under control

A Bot that sorts new mail into three lists and writes replies for you to send.

Which inbox?

Should the Bot write replies?

How often should it run?

What should wait for your OK?

  1. Name

    Inbox

    Click New chat, type this name and click Create “name” Bot. Lesson: create your Bot

  2. Standing job

    Set your description to this: You keep my Gmail inbox under control. Read only the mail in that inbox. Sort new mail into three lists: needs a reply from me today, can wait, and no reply needed. Write a reply for each email on the first list and show it to me as a draft. Never send, archive or delete anything. I send every reply myself. Then show me the description exactly as saved.

    Send this in the new Bot's chat. The Bot saves it and repeats it back. If the reply doesn't match, send it again. Lesson: tell the Bot its standing job

  3. First task

    Here's an email I got: [paste the email]. Tell me in one line what they want and by when. Then write a reply under 120 words and show it to me here as text. Don't send anything.

    Paste a real email over the brackets and send this next, in the same chat. Nothing needs connecting. Lesson: a first task that needs no plugin

  4. Plugins

    Connect Gmail in Connect apps before you ask for the routine. The first task doesn't need it.

    Without the plugin, the Bot can open your webmail in its browser. A plugin is often more reliable than clicking through a website.

    Open [your webmail's address] in your browser and ask me to sign in when you reach the login page.

    Lesson: connect a plugin Lesson: logins and CAPTCHAs

  5. Ask first rules

    send an email or post a message anywhere

    delete an email, a file or a calendar event

    Add each line as its own rule. In Settings > General, under Custom Rules, type it beside When Grok Bot wants to:, set It should: to Ask first and click Add Rule. Lesson: write a rule of your own

  6. Routine

    Set up a routine: every weekday at 8:00 AM, read the email that reached my inbox since your last run. Post one summary in this chat with three lists: needs a reply from me today, can wait, and no reply needed. Give each email one line: who it's from, what they want and any deadline they mention. For each email on the first list, write a reply and show it to me as a draft. Don't send, archive or delete anything.

    Connect the inbox first, then send this once the first task has come back the way you want. The Bot answers with a Created routine line. That's 5 runs a week. Lesson: ask for a routine in chat Pick how often it runs

Chase follow-ups

A Bot that keeps one list of open promises and writes a follow-up for each one that's overdue.

Where do the promises get made?

When is something overdue?

How often should it check?

  1. Name

    Follow-ups

    Click New chat, type this name and click Create “name” Bot. Lesson: create your Bot

  2. Standing job

    Set your description to this: You keep track of what I've promised people and what they've promised me. Read my sent mail and my inbox in Gmail. Keep one list of open items: who owes what to whom, since when, and where you found it. Flag anything open for more than three working days, and write a follow-up for each for me to send. Never send, post or reply to anything. I send every follow-up myself. Then show me the description exactly as saved.

    Send this in the new Bot's chat. The Bot saves it and repeats it back. If the reply doesn't match, send it again. Lesson: tell the Bot its standing job

  3. First task

    Here are my notes from a call: [paste your notes]. List what I promised and what they promised, each with a date if one was mentioned. Then write one follow-up email that confirms the list, under 150 words, and show it to me here as text. Don't send anything.

    Paste your notes over the brackets and send this next, in the same chat. Nothing needs connecting. Lesson: a first task that needs no plugin

  4. Plugins

    Connect Gmail in Connect apps before you ask for the routine. With it connected, a follow-up arrives as a draft card. The first task doesn't need it.

    No plugin for the app you use? Send this, and sign in yourself when the Bot asks.

    Open [the app's web address] in your browser and ask me to sign in when you reach the login page.

    Lesson: connect a plugin Find your app

  5. Ask first rule

    send an email or post a message anywhere

    In Settings > General, under Custom Rules, type this beside When Grok Bot wants to:, set It should: to Ask first and click Add Rule. Lesson: write a rule of your own

  6. Routine

    Set up a routine: every Monday at 9:00 AM, go through my Gmail sent mail and inbox for promises made since your last run, and update the list of open items. Post the list in this chat, with anything open for more than three working days at the top. Write a follow-up for each of those for me to send. Don't send or post anything. If nothing is open, say so in one line.

    Connect the plugin first, then send this once the first task has come back the way you want. The Bot answers with a Created routine line. That's 1 run a week. Lesson: ask for a routine in chat Pick how often it runs

A weekly report from a few sources

A Bot that writes one page a week from the sources you name, and marks what it couldn't find.

Leave it empty and the messages keep a blank in [square brackets] for you to fill in.

Where does the information live?

Pick every one that applies. Pick none and the message keeps a blank for your sources.

When should it arrive?

How do you want it?

  1. Name

    Weekly Report

    Click New chat, type this name and click Create “name” Bot. Lesson: create your Bot

  2. Standing job

    Set your description to this: You write my weekly report on [what the report covers]. Use only these sources: [your sources]. Give me one page: the numbers that moved, what got done, what's stuck, and what needs a decision. Say where each item came from. Mark anything you couldn't find as missing, and never fill a gap with a guess. Never send or post the report, and never change anything in the sources. I share it myself. Then show me the description exactly as saved.

    Send this in the new Bot's chat. The Bot saves it and repeats it back. If the reply doesn't match, send it again. Lesson: tell the Bot its standing job

  3. First task

    I've attached [last week's report or an export]. Summarize it in five bullets. List every number, decision and open question in a separate section, and say which page or section each one came from. Don't change the file.

    Click + and Attach files, add the file, then send this in the same chat. Nothing needs connecting. Lesson: a first task that needs no plugin

  4. Plugins

    • Connect one plugin for each app your sources live in, in Connect apps.

    For a website, or an app with no plugin, send this and sign in yourself when the Bot asks.

    Open [the site's address] in your browser and ask me to sign in when you reach the login page.

    Find your app Lesson: connect a plugin

  5. Ask first rule

    send an email or post a message anywhere

    In Settings > General, under Custom Rules, type this beside When Grok Bot wants to:, set It should: to Ask first and click Add Rule. Lesson: write a rule of your own

  6. Routine

    Set up a routine: every Monday at 9:00 AM, write my report on [what the report covers] for the past seven days, from the sources in your description. Save it as a file and share it in this chat. Don't send it to anyone. If a source can't be reached, say which one.

    Connect your sources first, then send this once the first task has come back the way you want. The Bot answers with a Created routine line. That's 1 run a week. Lesson: ask for a routine in chat Pick how often it runs

A chief of staff that coordinates

A Bot that tells you what needs you and hands work to your other Bots.

Which mail and calendar do you use?

Should it read Slack too?

Which routines do you want?

What should wait for your OK?

  1. Name

    Chief of Staff

    Give this job to your Main Bot, the one with the star. Lesson: how the Main Bot changes the pattern For a new Bot, click New chat, type this name and click Create “name” Bot.

  2. Standing job

    Set your description to this: You are my chief of staff. You keep track of my day and hand work to my other Bots. Read my calendar and my inbox. Tell me only what needs me, with where you found it and the next step you suggest. When I give you a job that belongs to another Bot, message that Bot once, then send me one summary when the work is done. Don't message other Bots to check in, and stay quiet when nothing has changed. Draft every email and message for me to send. Never send, post, delete or change a meeting without asking me first. Then show me the description exactly as saved.

    Send this in the Bot's chat. The Bot saves it and repeats it back. If the reply doesn't match, send it again. Lesson: the chief of staff's standing job

  3. First task

    Here's my day: today's meetings and my to-do list. [paste them here] Tell me the three things that need me first and why, what can wait, and what I could hand to another Bot. Don't contact anyone.

    Paste today's meetings and your to-do list over the brackets, and send this next, in the same chat. Nothing needs connecting. Lesson: a first task that needs no plugin

  4. Plugins

    Connect Google Calendar and Gmail in Connect apps before you ask for a routine. The first task doesn't need them.

    No plugin for an app you use? Send this, and sign in yourself when the Bot asks.

    Open [the app's web address] in your browser and ask me to sign in when you reach the login page.

    Lesson: connect a plugin Find your app

  5. Ask first rules

    send an email or post a message anywhere

    create, change or cancel a calendar event

    delete an email, a file or a calendar event

    Add each line as its own rule. In Settings > General, under Custom Rules, type it beside When Grok Bot wants to:, set It should: to Ask first and click Add Rule. Lesson: write a rule of your own

  6. Routines

    Set up a routine: every weekday at 8:00 AM, read my calendar for today and the email that reached my inbox since your last run. Post one brief in this chat: today's meetings with one line of context each, what needs a reply from me, and what's waiting on my decision. Say where you found each item. Don't message other Bots, and don't send, reply to or change anything. If nothing needs me, say so in one line.

    Connect the plugins first, then send this once the first task has come back the way you want. The Bot answers with a Created routine line. That's 5 runs a week. Lesson: ask for a routine in chat Pick how often it runs

Something of my own

A Bot for a job you describe in one sentence.

Leave it empty and the messages keep a blank in [square brackets] for you to fill in.

The name steers the Bot from its first message.

What should it work from?

How often should it run?

  1. Name

    [two or three words that say the job]

    Click New chat, type this name and click Create “name” Bot. Lesson: create your Bot

  2. Standing job

    Set your description to this: Your job: [the job in one sentence]. Use public web pages only. Give me a short summary of what you did and what you found, with a link or a file name for each item. Say plainly what you couldn't do. Never send, post, delete or pay for anything without asking me first. If you're not sure whether something needs my say, ask. Then show me the description exactly as saved.

    Send this in the new Bot's chat. The Bot saves it and repeats it back. If the reply doesn't match, send it again. Lesson: tell the Bot its standing job

  3. First task

    Do the job once now, as a trial: [the job in one sentence]. Use public web pages only, and don't sign in anywhere. Show me what you'd hand back, then stop and wait for my comments.

    Send this next, in the same chat. Nothing needs connecting. Lesson: a first task that needs no plugin

  4. Plugins

    Nothing to connect. The Bot reads public pages in the browser on its own computer.

    For a site with a login, or an app with no plugin, send this and sign in yourself when the Bot asks.

    Open [the site's address] in your browser and ask me to sign in when you reach the login page.

    Find your app Lesson: logins and CAPTCHAs

  5. Ask first rules

    send an email or post a message anywhere

    delete an email, a file or a calendar event

    Add each line as its own rule. In Settings > General, under Custom Rules, type it beside When Grok Bot wants to:, set It should: to Ask first and click Add Rule. Lesson: write a rule of your own

  6. Routine

    Set up a routine: every Monday at 9:00 AM, do the same job and post the result in this chat. If there's nothing to report, say so in one line.

    Ask for the routine only after the trial has come back right. The Bot answers with a Created routine line. That's 1 run a week. Lesson: ask for a routine in chat Pick how often it runs