> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.asteragents.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Aster

> The built-in agent that answers questions, does everyday work, and points people to the right agent, app or page

# Aster

**Aster** is a built-in agent available in every organization. Ask it anything or tell it what you need.

**When one of your agents owns the task**, because it has the data connection, your firm's knowledge or a set workflow, Aster sends you there. You get a link that opens a new chat with that agent and your request already typed in. It also points you to existing apps and to the right page in Control Hub.

**Otherwise Aster does the work itself:**

* Answers questions, including questions about Aster, from these docs.
* Writes and edits emails, memos and posts.
* Works through files you attach, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF.
* Researches the web and searches your organization's knowledge bases.
* Builds apps, agents, knowledge bases, skills and scheduled tasks, within your own permissions.

For guests, Aster answers from general knowledge and the web and points to the agents and apps they can use. It doesn't reach your organization's knowledge bases or data for them.

## Where Aster appears

* **New chats:** if your organization has no default agent, new chats start on Aster. In **Control Hub → Settings → General → Default agent**, this is the **Aster** option.
* **Agent picker:** Aster is at the top under **Start here**.

Aster is the same for every organization and is maintained by Aster Agents, so it isn't listed in Control Hub and can't be edited. It runs on the Standard-tier model of your organization's preferred provider (**Control Hub → Models**).

## Turn Aster off

<Note>
  Turning Aster on or off requires the **Organization Admin** (`org:admin`) role. See [Roles & Permissions](/settings/roles-permissions).
</Note>

In **Control Hub → Settings → General**, set **Aster** to **Off**. Aster then disappears from chat, the agent picker and the default agent setting. Turn it back on the same way.

To turn it off through the API, for example when provisioning organizations, send:

```bash theme={null}
POST /api/orgSettings
{ "settings": { "asterAgent": false } }
```

See [Update organization settings](/api-reference/organization-settings/update-organization-settings).


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