Summary

Hermes Agent is an open-source AI agent that connects models and tools to assist with tasks through a terminal, desktop app or messaging channels.

Hermes Agent: an open-source AI agent and automation assistant screenshot

What is Hermes Agent?

Hermes Agent is an open-source AI agent developed by Nous Research. It connects models and tools to help with research, development and everyday automation through conversation. The official project offers desktop, terminal and messaging access.

Main capabilities

  • Memory and skills: Save conversations, memories and reusable skills to support work across sessions; behavior depends on configuration.
  • Messaging: Configure channels such as Telegram, Discord and Slack according to the documentation and interact through a gateway.
  • Scheduled tasks: Set up briefings or other recurring tasks for a running agent to handle according to its configuration.
  • Tools and extensions: Use tool calls and MCP extensions, with support for delegated subtasks and multiple execution backends.

How to get started

  1. Read the official repository and installation documentation, then choose the desktop or terminal method for your system.
  2. Configure a model provider and required credentials as directed, checking the provider's costs and data-handling terms.
  3. Start a conversation with clear goals, accessible resources and expected results. Configure messaging or scheduling when needed.
  4. Grant appropriate file, network and tool permissions, review actions and outputs, and back up work data regularly.

Use cases and limits

Hermes Agent can assist with research, development, task organization and scheduled briefings. The project itself is open source under the MIT license, but model calls and optional hosting can incur fees. Automated results may be wrong, and external actions depend on permissions and the environment. Tasks that require a local agent do not run while its process is stopped. Review the privacy and access settings of providers and connected tools before handling sensitive data.

Frequently asked questions

Is Hermes Agent free?

The project is open source under the MIT license; model providers, hosting and optional services may charge separately.

How can I use it?

The official project offers desktop and terminal access and supports configured messaging channels; consult its documentation for current support.

What do scheduled tasks need?

Scheduling and the runtime must be configured. Tasks depending on a local agent do not run while its process is stopped.