# AI

Orchard's optional AI layer: enable a provider, then get a context-aware assistant throughout the app plus a background agent that runs scheduled jobs and reaches you over Telegram.

Orchard contains some built-in AI features, but they are optional and off by default.
Enabled and configured, it gives two things:
- Background **agent** — run scheduled jobs and reach you over Telegram.
- Context-aware **assistants** — help you in specific contexts inside the UI.

You switch it on and customize it under [Settings → Application → AI](/orchard/settings/#ai).

<figure class="screenshot">

![Orchard's AI settings on the Application tab: the AI section with a Telegram messaging integration and agent cards, and an open "New agent job" dialog defining a "Lightning Node Watcher" — its model, description, and system prompt. On the right, an "Agent Settings Assistant" chat log shows the assistant applying changes through tool calls like agent name, description, system-message, and schedule updates.](../../../assets/your-orchard-ai.png)

<figcaption>Every Orchard needs a groundskeeper.</figcaption>

</figure>

## The integration

Enable AI, then point Orchard at a model provider:

- **[Ollama](https://ollama.com)** — local models on your own hardware. Set the **API Endpoint** (Ollama
  defaults to `http://localhost:11434`), and everything stays local and private.
- **[OpenRouter](https://openrouter.ai)** — cloud-hosted models, payable with Bitcoin, reached through a single **API key**.

<Aside type="tip" title="Local or cloud">
  Ollama keeps prompts on your own machine; OpenRouter sends them to a third party. If
  keeping your operations private matters, local models win.
</Aside>

## The agent

Enabling AI adds a built-in agent: the **Groundskeeper**.
You can configure how it behaves and what it can do in [Settings → Application → AI](/orchard/settings/#ai).

It can:

- Answer questions about your stack.
- Run scheduled jobs.
- Send and answer messages through Telegram.

<Aside type="note" title="Security model">
  The agent is sandboxed by the application and cannot access your system or network.
  It can only access the data and services that you grant it access to.
</Aside>

## Messaging (Telegram)

The agent can send and answer messages through Telegram. This allows you to receive alerts on your phone,
and answer questions wherever you are.

- Configure the Telegram bot at [Settings → Application → AI](/orchard/settings/#ai).
- Add your personal Telegram Chat ID under [Settings → User → Messaging](/orchard/settings/#messaging).

## Agent jobs

You can define custom jobs for the agent to run. This allows you to run scheduled tasks, such as:
- Monitoring the health of your services.
- Monitoring the status of your system resources.
- Regular reports on activity / performance.
- Alerts on critical issues and events.

## In-app assistants

Beyond the agent system, enabling AI puts context-aware assistants into the UI
itself. These assistants are designed to help in specific contexts:
- Adjust filters on tables and charts.
- Complete forms.
- Answer questions about the app.