---
title: Get started with Elastic Agent Builder
description: Learn how to access Elastic Agent Builder, ingest data, and build skills for AI agents.
url: https://www.elastic.co/docs/explore-analyze/ai-features/agent-builder/get-started
products:
  - Elastic Cloud Serverless
  - Elastic Observability
  - Elastic Security
  - Elasticsearch
  - Kibana
applies_to:
  - Elastic Cloud Serverless: Generally available
  - Elastic Stack: Generally available since 9.3, Preview in 9.2
---

# Get started with Elastic Agent Builder
To start using Elastic Agent Builder you need to deploy Elasticsearch and Kibana.
If you don't already have an Elastic deployment, you can start a [free trial](https://cloud.elastic.co/registration) or refer to [Deploy > Choosing your deployment type](/docs/deploy-manage/deploy#choosing-your-deployment-type).
<admonition title="Admonition">
  This feature requires the appropriate Elastic Stack [subscription](https://www.elastic.co/pricing) or Serverless [project feature tier](https://www.elastic.co/docs/deploy-manage/deploy/elastic-cloud/project-settings).
</admonition>

<stepper>
  <step title="Access {{agent-builder}}">
    <applies-switch>
      <applies-item title="stack: ga 9.4+" applies-to="Elastic Stack: Generally available since 9.4">
        On non-serverless deployments, Elastic Agent Builder availability depends on the navigation mode of your Kibana space:
        <dropdown title="Elasticsearch solution view">
          Elastic Agent Builder is enabled by default, replacing AI Assistant. You can access it from multiple entry points:
          - Select the **Agent Builder** card on the Elasticsearch home page.
          - Click **Agents** in the navigation menu.
          - Click the **AI Agent** button in the top-right header to start a conversation from any page.
          - Open the **Agent builder** API tutorial from the Kibana **Getting started** page, under **Explore the API**.
        </dropdown>

        <dropdown title="Elastic Observability and Elastic Security solution views">
          Elastic Agent Builder is enabled by default, replacing AI Assistant. You can access it from two entry points:
          - Click **Agents** in the navigation menu.
          - Click the **AI Agent** button in the top-right header to start a conversation from any page.
        </dropdown>

        <dropdown title="Classic view">
          Elastic Agent Builder appears in the side navigation under Elasticsearch. You can choose Agent Builder as your assistant through the initial selector or the [chat experience switch](/docs/explore-analyze/ai-features/ai-chat-experiences/ai-agent-or-ai-assistant#switch-between-chat-experiences).
        </dropdown>
        You can also search for **Agents** in the [global search field](https://www.elastic.co/docs/explore-analyze/find-and-organize/find-apps-and-objects).
      </applies-item>

      <applies-item title="serverless: ga" applies-to="Elastic Cloud Serverless: Generally available">
        Elastic Agent Builder is the default chat experience in all serverless project types.
        <dropdown title="Elasticsearch Serverless">
          You can access Elastic Agent Builder from multiple entry points in the UI:
          - Select the **Elastic Agent** card on the Elasticsearch home page.
          - Click **Agents** in the navigation menu.
          - Click the **AI Agent** button in the top-right header to start a conversation from any page.
          - Open the **Build a chat tool with Agent Builder** API tutorial from the Kibana **Getting started** page, under **Explore the API**.
        </dropdown>

        <dropdown title="Elastic Observability Serverless and Elastic Security Serverless">
          Elastic Agent Builder is enabled by default, replacing AI Assistant. Click the **AI Agent** button in the top-right header to start a conversation from any page.
        </dropdown>
        You can also search for **Agents** in the [global search field](https://www.elastic.co/docs/explore-analyze/find-and-organize/find-apps-and-objects).
      </applies-item>
    </applies-switch>

    <dropdown title="Previous versions" applies-to="Elastic Stack: Generally available since 9.3, Elastic Stack: Preview in 9.2">
      On non-serverless deployments, Elastic Agent Builder availability depends on the navigation mode of your Kibana space:
      <dropdown title="Elasticsearch solution view">
        Elastic Agent Builder is enabled by default, replacing Search Assistant. You can access it from multiple entry points:
        - Select the **Agent Builder** card on the Elasticsearch home page.
        - Click **Agents** in the navigation menu.
        - Click the **AI Agent** button in the top-right header to start a conversation from any page.
        - Open the **Agent builder** API tutorial from the Kibana **Getting started** page, under **Explore the API**.
      </dropdown>

      <dropdown title="Elastic Observability and Elastic Security solution views">
        You must [switch from AI Assistant to Agent Builder](/docs/explore-analyze/ai-features/ai-chat-experiences/ai-agent-or-ai-assistant#switch-between-chat-experiences) to enable the feature. Once enabled, find **Agents** in the navigation menu.
      </dropdown>

      <dropdown title="Classic view">
        Elastic Agent Builder appears in the side navigation under Elasticsearch. You can choose Agent Builder as your assistant through the initial selector or the [chat experience switch](/docs/explore-analyze/ai-features/ai-chat-experiences/ai-agent-or-ai-assistant#switch-between-chat-experiences).
      </dropdown>
      You can also search for **Agents** in the [global search field](https://www.elastic.co/docs/explore-analyze/find-and-organize/find-apps-and-objects).
    </dropdown>
  </step>

  <note>
    To learn about required privileges for Elastic Agent Builder, refer to [Permissions and access control](https://www.elastic.co/docs/explore-analyze/ai-features/agent-builder/permissions).
  </note>

  <step title="Ingest data into Elasticsearch">
    If you already have data in Elasticsearch, skip ahead to [start a conversation](#start-a-conversation).If you need to add data first, choose the path that fits:
    <dropdown title="Use sample data">
      If you're not ready to add your own data, you can:
      - Load [sample data](https://www.elastic.co/docs/manage-data/ingest/sample-data) in Kibana.
      - Generate synthetic financial data using [this Python tool](https://github.com/jeffvestal/synthetic-financial-data?tab=readme-ov-file#synthetic-financial-data-generator-). (This requires your [Elasticsearch URL and an API key](https://www.elastic.co/docs/solutions/elasticsearch-solution-project/search-connection-details)).
      - Follow the [Elastic Agent Builder API tutorial](https://www.elastic.co/docs/explore-analyze/ai-features/agent-builder/agent-builder-api-tutorial), which includes sample book data.
    </dropdown>

    <dropdown title="Bring your own data">
      If you already have data, you can:
      - [Upload a file](https://www.elastic.co/docs/manage-data/ingest/upload-data-files) in the Kibana UI for quick testing.
      - Learn about your [ingestion options](https://www.elastic.co/docs/manage-data/ingest) if you'd like to ingest larger datasets.
    </dropdown>
  </step>

  <step title="Start a conversation">
    The **Agent Chat** UI provides a conversational interface where you can interact with agents and explore your data using natural language. The default `Elastic AI Agent` is ready to use immediately.Use chat to ask questions, request data analysis, try [built-in skills](https://www.elastic.co/docs/explore-analyze/ai-features/agent-builder/builtin-skills-reference), or [create dashboards and visualizations](https://www.elastic.co/docs/explore-analyze/ai-features/agent-builder/agent-builder-dashboards-and-visualizations). You can also invoke a specific skill with a slash command, inspect the agent's reasoning and tool calls, and confirm any proposed write actions before changes are applied.Learn more in [Agent Chat](https://www.elastic.co/docs/explore-analyze/ai-features/agent-builder/chat).
  </step>

  <step title="Configure model (optional)">
    On Elastic Cloud Hosted and Elastic Cloud Serverless, Elastic Agent Builder comes with preconfigured models ready to use. To review recommended models, switch models, or add your own, refer to [model selection and configuration](https://www.elastic.co/docs/explore-analyze/ai-features/agent-builder/models).
  </step>

  <step title="Build skills, tools, and agents">
    After you test the default `Elastic AI Agent`, create a [custom skill](https://www.elastic.co/docs/explore-analyze/ai-features/agent-builder/custom-skills) for a specific workflow. Skills package task-specific instructions, context, and the tools needed to complete the workflow.Add [tools](https://www.elastic.co/docs/explore-analyze/ai-features/agent-builder/tools) when the skill needs to retrieve data, run queries, call APIs, or take action. Create a [custom agent](/docs/explore-analyze/ai-features/agent-builder/custom-agents#create-a-new-agent) when you need a distinct persona, system prompt, model configuration, or set of enabled skills. You don't need a separate agent for every workflow: a single agent can use skill descriptions to choose the right skills and tools for the user's request. Note that custom agents don't include [Elastic capabilities](/docs/explore-analyze/ai-features/agent-builder/agent-builder-agents#elastic-capabilities) by default — enable the toggle to assign all Elastic-built tools, skills, and plugins automatically.To build programmatically, try the [Elastic Agent Builder API tutorial](https://www.elastic.co/docs/explore-analyze/ai-features/agent-builder/agent-builder-api-tutorial) or explore the [Kibana APIs](https://www.elastic.co/docs/explore-analyze/ai-features/agent-builder/programmatic-access).
  </step>
</stepper>

<tip>
  For solution-specific guidance, refer to [Agent Builder for Observability](https://www.elastic.co/docs/solutions/observability/ai/agent-builder-observability) and [Agent Builder for Elastic Security](https://www.elastic.co/docs/solutions/security/ai/agent-builder/agent-builder).
</tip>