Add file and website knowledge
Knowledge sources provide information that an agent can reference when responding. In the new Copilot Studio experience, you add and manage knowledge for an agent from the Build tab.
Choose a source for the information
Files and public websites are useful starting points for an information agent:
- Files provide a controlled snapshot of policies, guides, product details, or other reference material. Use files when the source content is supplied and reviewed as a document.
- Public websites provide content from an accessible web address. Use a website when the authoritative information is maintained online and its pages can be indexed.
The GitHub Copilot harness also supports sources such as SharePoint, Dataverse, Azure AI Search, and other enterprise systems. These sources can require additional permission, data-model, and retrieval considerations.
Prepare knowledge for retrieval
The quality of a knowledge response depends on the source material. Before adding a source:
- Confirm that it is authoritative and current.
- Use descriptive headings and direct language in documents.
- Remove contradictory or obsolete versions of the same policy.
- Keep related terms consistent across sources.
- Identify information that the agent must not expose.
A knowledge source should contain facts and reference content. Put behavioral rules, such as tone and escalation requirements, in the agent instructions instead of relying on a source document to control behavior.
Add and verify knowledge
From the Build tab, open the Knowledge component. You can upload a file or select Public websites and provide a web address. Complete the source-specific settings, and then save or add the source.
After the source is ready, test questions that it should answer. Review the response for accuracy, completeness, and source use. Also ask a question that the source doesn't answer. The agent should follow its instructions for missing information instead of filling the gap with an unsupported claim.
Source access and permissions still apply. Adding a source doesn't grant users permission to information that they aren't authorized to access.
For more information, see Add knowledge sources to an agent.