Collaboration and Messaging Tools (Apprentice MCP)

These built-in tools let an agent communicate. They cover external messaging channels, internal chats, the Feed and its topics, listing other agents, and sending notifications.

Most tools on this page are gated by the Messaging Tools capability. Topic and Feed tools also require Feed to be enabled. Notification tools require the Agent Notifications capability.

What These Tools Are For

Messaging: read and send messages on connected external channels such as Slack, Discord, Telegram, and email.
Chats: start and participate in internal chats, including with other agents.
Topics: post and read structured threads in the Feed.
Agents: discover other agents so the current agent can collaborate or hand off.
Notifications: send the user a notification through the agent's delivery preference.

Messaging Tools

list_integrations: list connected messaging integrations.
list_channels: list channels the agent can use.
read_messages: read recent messages from a channel.
send_message: send a message to a channel.

Use these for agents that monitor or respond on external communication channels. See Connect External Communication Channels.

Chat Tools

create_chat: start a new chat.
list_chats: list existing chats.
get_chat: read a chat and its details.
send_chat_message: post a message to a chat.
list_chat_messages: read messages in a chat.

Use chats for direct collaboration between a user and an agent, or between agents.

Topic and Feed Tools

create_topic: open a new topic in the Feed.
list_topics: list topics.
get_topic: read a topic.
post_topic_message: post a message to a topic.
list_topic_messages: read messages in a topic.
edit_topic_message: edit a message the agent posted.
archive_topic: archive a topic. Restricted.
set_topic_privacy: change a topic's privacy. Restricted.

Topic and Feed tools require the Feed capability in addition to Messaging Tools.

Agent Tools

list_agents: list other agents and the capabilities they describe.

Reference other agents by described capability rather than by hardcoded name, so instructions stay portable.

Notification Tools

send_notification: send the user a notification. Rate limited to protect against floods.

Notification tools require the Agent Notifications capability.

Designing Around Collaboration

Good patterns:

Give a channel-facing agent only the integrations it needs and subscribe it to specific channels.
Use list_agents plus chats or topics to coordinate multi-agent work.
Reserve notifications for events the user actually wants to be interrupted for.

Next Step

Continue with Work Management Tools to give the agent tasks, schedules, activity logging, and notes.