# Workflows and Background Agents

For big jobs, the AI can split the work among several helper AIs ("Agents") that work in the background at the same time.

## What it is

A workflow is a plan for a large job: which Agents do which part, and in what order. The AI can start one on its own when a job is big enough, or you can run a saved one by name. The Agents work in the background while you keep chatting; when they finish, the result is posted into the chat and the AI continues from it.

## When to use it

| Good fit | Not needed |
|---|---|
| The same check on dozens of files or records | A job that one pass can do |
| Research with several independent parts | Work where each step depends on your answer |
| A saved procedure your team runs often | Quick questions |

## How to use it

1. Ask for the job in plain words; the AI decides whether to use helpers. Or type `/workflow` to list saved workflows, and `/workflow <name> <task>` to run one.
2. A task bar above the input box shows the active workflows and their Agents: **In progress**, **Paused**, **Completed**, **Failed** or **Stopped**.
3. Expand a workflow to see what each Agent is doing. **Pause**, **Resume** or **Stop** it there.
4. Open **More › Tasks** for the full list of this chat's tasks, including finished ones.
5. Keep chatting meanwhile. When the work finishes, the result appears in the chat.

## Example

```text
Check every contract in this folder for a termination clause and a renewal
date. Give me one table: file, clause found (yes/no), renewal date.
```

With many contracts, the AI splits them among Agents that read in parallel. The task bar shows their progress; when all are done, the AI posts one combined table.

## Limits and permissions

- Two workflows can run in the same chat at the same time.
- **Pause** waits for the current step to finish (**Pausing**), then stops before the next one. **Resume** continues from the same place.
- More Agents use more of your model usage.

## If something goes wrong

| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| An Agent shows **Failed** | Expand it to read the error, then ask the AI to retry that part |
| The task bar disappeared | It only shows active work; open **More › Tasks** for finished ones |
| The result looks incomplete | Ask the AI which items each Agent covered, and rerun the missing ones |

## Related

- [Background Commands and the Task Bar](https://docs.micromeet.ai/skills/background-commands.md): Long commands running on your computer
- [Scheduled Tasks](https://docs.micromeet.ai/skills/scheduled-tasks.md): Run a job at set times
- [Common Workflows](https://docs.micromeet.ai/guides/common-workflows.md): Complete examples