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What are Assistants?

Assistants are pre-configured AI agents with custom instructions, parameters, and settings. They allow you to:
  • Define specialized behavior and tone
  • Set default model parameters
  • Create reusable personas for different tasks
  • Associate assistants with projects

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Creating an Assistant

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Basic Setup

  1. Go to Settings > Assistants
  2. Click Add Assistant
  3. Fill in the basic information:

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Name

A descriptive name for your assistant (e.g., “Code Reviewer”, “Creative Writer”)

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Avatar

Choose an emoji or custom image to identify your assistant visually.

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Description (Optional)

A brief explanation of what the assistant does.

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Instructions

Instructions define your assistant’s behavior, knowledge, and response style. 
You are an expert code reviewer with deep knowledge of software engineering best practices.

When reviewing code:
- Focus on readability, maintainability, and performance
- Identify potential bugs and security issues
- Suggest specific improvements with examples
- Be constructive and educational in your feedback

Keep your reviews concise and actionable.
Dynamic Date Insertion: Use {{current_date}} in your instructions to automatically insert the current date. This helps the model provide time-aware responses.Example: Today's date is {{current_date}}. Consider current events when responding.

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Parameters

Configure model behavior with custom parameters:

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Predefined Parameters

Jan provides quick-access buttons for common parameters:
  • Temperature - Controls randomness (0.0-2.0)
  • Top P - Nucleus sampling threshold (0.0-1.0)
  • Top K - Limits token selection (1-100)
  • Max Tokens - Maximum response length
  • Presence Penalty - Reduces repetition (-2.0 to 2.0)
  • Frequency Penalty - Discourages repeated phrases (-2.0 to 2.0)
Click a predefined parameter to add it with default values.

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Custom Parameters

Add your own parameters:
  1. Click Add Parameter (+)
  2. Enter a Key name
  3. Select a Type:
    • String - Text value
    • Number - Numeric value
    • Boolean - True/false
    • JSON - Complex object
  4. Enter the Value
{
  "temperature": 0.7,
  "top_p": 0.9,
  "top_k": 40
}

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Using Assistants

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In New Chats

When starting a new chat:
  1. Click the Assistant dropdown in the chat input area
  2. Select an assistant from the list
  3. The assistant’s instructions and parameters will be applied

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In Projects

Assign a default assistant to a project:
  1. Create or edit a project
  2. Select an assistant from the dropdown
  3. All new threads in that project will use this assistant
Project assistants are automatically applied to new conversations, but you can override them by manually selecting a different assistant.

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Managing Assistants

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Editing Assistants

  1. Go to Settings > Assistants
  2. Click the assistant you want to edit
  3. Modify any field (name, avatar, instructions, parameters)
  4. Click Save
Changes to assistants only affect new conversations. Existing threads continue using the original instructions.

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Deleting Assistants

  1. Go to Settings > Assistants
  2. Click the delete icon next to the assistant
  3. Confirm deletion
Deleting an assistant removes it from all projects and new chat options. Existing threads are not affected.

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Assistant Best Practices

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Clear Instructions

  • Be specific about the assistant’s role and expertise
  • Define the expected behavior and tone
  • Include examples when helpful
  • Keep instructions focused and concise

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Parameter Tuning

  • 0.0 - 0.3 - Focused, deterministic (code, facts, analysis)
  • 0.4 - 0.7 - Balanced (general chat, explanations)
  • 0.8 - 1.2 - Creative (writing, brainstorming)
  • 1.3 - 2.0 - Highly creative (experimental, artistic)
  • Presence Penalty - Increases with unique topics (0.6 for diverse responses)
  • Frequency Penalty - Reduces word repetition (0.5 for varied phrasing)
  • Start with low values and adjust based on results

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Testing Assistants

Before using an assistant in production:
  1. Create test conversations with typical queries
  2. Verify the tone and style match expectations
  3. Adjust parameters based on response quality
  4. Iterate on instructions for edge cases

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Example Assistants

Instructions:
You are a technical writer creating clear, accurate documentation.

Guidelines:
- Use active voice and present tense
- Break complex topics into digestible sections
- Include code examples when relevant
- Define technical terms on first use
- Structure content with headings and lists

Current date: {{current_date}}
Parameters:
  • temperature: 0.3
  • max_tokens: 2000
  • presence_penalty: 0.1
Instructions:
You are a data analyst helping users understand their data.

Approach:
- Ask clarifying questions about the data and goals
- Provide statistical insights and trends
- Suggest visualizations when appropriate
- Explain findings in business terms
- Highlight actionable recommendations
Parameters:
  • temperature: 0.4
  • top_p: 0.85
  • max_tokens: 1500
Instructions:
You are a creative writer crafting engaging stories.

Style:
- Use vivid descriptions and sensory details
- Develop compelling characters with depth
- Create tension and pacing
- Show, don't tell
- End chapters with hooks to keep readers engaged
Parameters:
  • temperature: 1.1
  • presence_penalty: 0.6
  • frequency_penalty: 0.4
  • max_tokens: 3000

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