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Airia Agent supports two complementary ways to extend its capabilities. Before you visit the Tools or Sub-agents tabs, use this guide to pick the right approach for each capability you want to add.

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The two approaches

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Tools and MCP servers

Tools are discrete, callable actions: search a knowledge base, query a database, call an external API, run a code snippet. You attach them directly to Airia Agent, and it invokes them as needed during a conversation. MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers are a standardized way to expose multiple tools from a single external server. Connecting an MCP server makes all of its tools available to Airia Agent at once. Use tools or MCP servers when:
  • The capability is a single, well-defined action (fetch, query, write, execute)
  • You want low-latency access to a frequently used integration
  • The tool does not require its own persona, conversation context, or specialized reasoning

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Sub-agents

Sub-agents are fully built Airia agents from your catalog that Airia Agent can invoke during a conversation. When Airia Agent determines a task is best handled by a specialized agent, it delegates the conversation turn to that agent and returns the result. Use sub-agents when:
  • You already have a purpose-built agent (e.g., an HR assistant, a code reviewer) that should remain independently accessible in the catalog
  • The capability requires multi-step reasoning, its own system prompt, or specialized knowledge
  • You want to route requests between distinct domains without exposing multiple entry points to end users

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Decision guide

What you want to doRecommended approach
Call an external REST APITool
Query a databaseTool
Execute code in the sandboxTool
Use an external MCP server (e.g., a file system, browser, or custom server)MCP server
Delegate to an existing HR botSub-agent
Delegate to an existing code-review agentSub-agent
Reuse an agent end users also access directly from the catalogSub-agent
Add a capability that needs its own persona or specialized knowledgeSub-agent

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Using both together

Tools and sub-agents are additive. Airia Agent has access to all configured tools and all configured sub-agents simultaneously. At runtime, the agent chooses the most appropriate capability based on the user’s request.
If you are unsure which approach to use, start with a sub-agent. Tools can always be added later once a capability is built out, tested, and validated as a named agent. Reverting a tool-based approach is harder once users rely on it.
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