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

# Guardrails and safety

> The safety layers around every AI Agent gambit, and where you add your own guardrail instructions.

export const img = {
  activity: {
    activityTimeline: "/docs/guides/activity/images/activity-timeline.png",
    capturedVariablesPanel: "/docs/guides/activity/images/captured-variables-panel.png",
    dataViewCards: "/docs/guides/activity/images/data-view-cards.png",
    exportDataDialog: "/docs/guides/activity/images/export-data-dialog.png",
    tasksPanelExportReady: "/docs/guides/activity/images/tasks-panel-export-ready.png"
  },
  analytics: {
    analyticsOverview: "/docs/guides/analytics/images/analytics-overview.png",
    exploreGallery: "/docs/guides/analytics/images/explore-gallery.png",
    exploreTab: "/docs/guides/analytics/images/explore-tab.png",
    goalForm: "/docs/guides/analytics/images/goal-form.png",
    goalsTab: "/docs/guides/analytics/images/goals-tab.png",
    improveDiagnostics: "/docs/guides/analytics/images/improve-diagnostics.png",
    improveTab: "/docs/guides/analytics/images/improve-tab.png",
    teamTab: "/docs/guides/analytics/images/team-tab.png"
  },
  billing: {
    billingOverview: "/docs/guides/billing/images/billing-overview.png",
    buyConversationsDialog: "/docs/guides/billing/images/buy-conversations-dialog.png",
    buySeatsDialog: "/docs/guides/billing/images/buy-seats-dialog.png",
    livechatSeatsTab: "/docs/guides/billing/images/livechat-seats-tab.png",
    organizationDeletionLifecycle: "/docs/guides/billing/images/organization-deletion-lifecycle.svg",
    organizationSwitcher: "/docs/guides/billing/images/organization-switcher.png",
    rolesAndAccessMatrix: "/docs/guides/billing/images/roles-and-access-matrix.png"
  },
  building: {
    agentBehaviorGuardrails: "/docs/guides/building/images/agent-behavior-guardrails.png",
    agentCardMenu: "/docs/guides/building/images/agent-card-menu.png",
    agentConfigure: "/docs/guides/building/images/agent-configure.png",
    agentExitRoutesDialog: "/docs/guides/building/images/agent-exit-routes-dialog.png",
    agentLibrary: "/docs/guides/building/images/agent-library.png",
    agentModelParameters: "/docs/guides/building/images/agent-model-parameters.png",
    aiAgentGambitLoop: "/docs/guides/building/images/ai-agent-gambit-loop.svg",
    builderBasics: "/docs/guides/building/images/builder-basics.png",
    builderConnectHandlePanel: "/docs/guides/building/images/builder-connect-handle-panel.png",
    builtInToolsDialog: "/docs/guides/building/images/built-in-tools-dialog.png",
    configureDebugTab: "/docs/guides/building/images/configure-debug-tab.png",
    configureLanguage: "/docs/guides/building/images/configure-language.png",
    configureNotifications: "/docs/guides/building/images/configure-notifications.png",
    createAgentDialog: "/docs/guides/building/images/create-agent-dialog.png",
    draftPublishRollbackPinning: "/docs/guides/building/images/draft-publish-rollback-pinning.svg",
    draftSwitcherChip: "/docs/guides/building/images/draft-switcher-chip.png",
    duplicateAgentDialog: "/docs/guides/building/images/duplicate-agent-dialog.png",
    flowConditions: "/docs/guides/building/images/flow-conditions.png",
    gambitPalette: "/docs/guides/building/images/gambit-palette.png",
    gambits: {
      gambitAiAgent: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-ai-agent.png",
      gambitApiCall: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-api-call.png",
      gambitAutoSuggestion: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-auto-suggestion.png",
      gambitButton: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-button.png",
      gambitCard: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-card.png",
      gambitChannel: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-channel.png",
      gambitCustomCode: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-custom-code.png",
      gambitDateTime: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-date-time.png",
      gambitGeoLocation: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-geo-location.png",
      gambitLanguage: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-language.png",
      gambitLiveChat: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-live-chat.png",
      gambitMediaUpload: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-media-upload.png",
      gambitNoInput: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-no-input.png",
      gambitRedirect: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-redirect.png",
      gambitStarRating: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-star-rating.png",
      gambitStartAndEnd: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-start-and-end.png",
      gambitText: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-text.png",
      gambitTrigger: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-trigger.png"
    },
    languagesTranslateGambit: "/docs/guides/building/images/languages-translate-gambit.png",
    languageSystemMessages: "/docs/guides/building/images/language-system-messages.png",
    newDraftDialog: "/docs/guides/building/images/new-draft-dialog.png",
    outputComponentsGrid: "/docs/guides/building/images/output-components-grid.png",
    publishDialog: "/docs/guides/building/images/publish-dialog.png",
    systemPromptDialog: "/docs/guides/building/images/system-prompt-dialog.png",
    testModeEventLog: "/docs/guides/building/images/test-mode-event-log.png",
    testModePanel: "/docs/guides/building/images/test-mode-panel.png",
    validationProblemsPanel: "/docs/guides/building/images/validation-problems-panel.png",
    variablePickerPanel: "/docs/guides/building/images/variable-picker-panel.png",
    variablePillInserted: "/docs/guides/building/images/variable-pill-inserted.png",
    versionsDraftsPanel: "/docs/guides/building/images/versions-drafts-panel.png"
  },
  campaigns: {
    campaignFlavorsTriggers: "/docs/guides/campaigns/images/campaign-flavors-triggers.svg",
    campaignReplyRouting: "/docs/guides/campaigns/images/campaign-reply-routing.svg",
    campaignSendAnatomy: "/docs/guides/campaigns/images/campaign-send-anatomy.svg",
    createACampaign: "/docs/guides/campaigns/images/create-a-campaign.png",
    walletReserveSettleRefund: "/docs/guides/campaigns/images/wallet-reserve-settle-refund.svg",
    webhookCampaignContractLocking: "/docs/guides/campaigns/images/webhook-campaign-contract-locking.svg",
    webhookCampaignLifecycleStates: "/docs/guides/campaigns/images/webhook-campaign-lifecycle-states.svg",
    webhookCampaignOneCallOneDelivery: "/docs/guides/campaigns/images/webhook-campaign-one-call-one-delivery.svg"
  },
  channels: {
    distributeWhatsappConnect: "/docs/guides/channels/images/distribute-whatsapp-connect.png",
    whatsappConnectDialogWaiting: "/docs/guides/channels/images/whatsapp-connect-dialog-waiting.png",
    whatsappEmptyState: "/docs/guides/channels/images/whatsapp-empty-state.png"
  },
  deploy: {
    bridgeEventGambitSection: "/docs/guides/deploy/images/bridge-event-gambit-section.png",
    deploymentSurfacesAndChannels: "/docs/guides/deploy/images/deployment-surfaces-and-channels.svg",
    designAgentTab: "/docs/guides/deploy/images/design-agent-tab.png",
    designLauncherTab: "/docs/guides/deploy/images/design-launcher-tab.png",
    embedIframeTab: "/docs/guides/deploy/images/embed-iframe-tab.png",
    embedTheWidget: "/docs/guides/deploy/images/embed-the-widget.png",
    mobileAppIntegration: "/docs/guides/deploy/images/mobile-app-integration.png",
    onYourDomain: "/docs/guides/deploy/images/on-your-domain.png",
    shareYourAgentLink: "/docs/guides/deploy/images/share-your-agent-link.png"
  },
  developer: {
    api: {
      channelSendTemplateVsMessage: "/docs/developer/api/images/channel-send-template-vs-message.svg",
      endUsers: {
        endUsersListCursorPagination: "/docs/developer/api/end-users/images/end-users-list-cursor-pagination.svg"
      },
      triggerCallConversationLifecycle: "/docs/developer/api/images/trigger-call-conversation-lifecycle.svg"
    },
    developerSurfacesMap: "/docs/developer/images/developer-surfaces-map.svg",
    embed: {
      embedConfigToWidgetContext: "/docs/developer/embed/images/embed-config-to-widget-context.svg",
      hostPageBridgeFlow: "/docs/developer/embed/images/host-page-bridge-flow.svg",
      identitySigningFlow: "/docs/developer/embed/images/identity-signing-flow.svg",
      scriptVsIframeEmbed: "/docs/developer/embed/images/script-vs-iframe-embed.svg"
    },
    mobile: {
      bridgeMessageProtocol: "/docs/developer/mobile/images/bridge-message-protocol.svg",
      webviewBridgeArchitecture: "/docs/developer/mobile/images/webview-bridge-architecture.svg"
    }
  },
  endUsers: {
    anonymousToIdentifiedProfile: "/docs/guides/end-users/images/anonymous-to-identified-profile.svg",
    bulkActionBar: "/docs/guides/end-users/images/bulk-action-bar.png",
    campaignConsentGate: "/docs/guides/end-users/images/campaign-consent-gate.svg",
    consentPerChannelStates: "/docs/guides/end-users/images/consent-per-channel-states.svg",
    dynamicVsStaticSegments: "/docs/guides/end-users/images/dynamic-vs-static-segments.svg",
    endUserDirectory: "/docs/guides/end-users/images/end-user-directory.png",
    endUserProfileAcrossChannels: "/docs/guides/end-users/images/end-user-profile-across-channels.svg",
    endUserProfilePanes: "/docs/guides/end-users/images/end-user-profile-panes.png",
    profileMergeAndTakeoverProtection: "/docs/guides/end-users/images/profile-merge-and-takeover-protection.svg",
    segmentBuilder: "/docs/guides/end-users/images/segment-builder.png",
    segmentsPage: "/docs/guides/end-users/images/segments-page.png"
  },
  getStarted: {
    agentStates: "/docs/get-started/images/agent-states.svg",
    buildToLivePath: "/docs/get-started/images/build-to-live-path.svg",
    dashboardSidebarMap: "/docs/get-started/images/dashboard-sidebar-map.png",
    organizationOwnershipAndRoles: "/docs/get-started/images/organization-ownership-and-roles.svg",
    quickstart: {
      step1CreateYourAccount: "/docs/get-started/images/quickstart/step-1-create-your-account.png",
      step3ConnectTheAiAgent: "/docs/get-started/images/quickstart/step-3-connect-the-ai-agent.png",
      step4TestMode: "/docs/get-started/images/quickstart/step-4-test-mode.png"
    },
    quickstartCanvas: "/docs/get-started/images/quickstart-canvas.png"
  },
  knowledge: {
    addASource: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/add-a-source.png",
    addRetrieverPicker: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/add-retriever-picker.png",
    attachKnowledgeGambit: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/attach-knowledge-gambit.png",
    configureARetriever: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/configure-a-retriever.png",
    createKnowledgeBaseDialog: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/create-knowledge-base-dialog.png",
    customRetrieverDialog: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/custom-retriever-dialog.png",
    datasetTab: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/dataset-tab.png",
    documentChangeReindexLifecycle: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/document-change-reindex-lifecycle.svg",
    documentsTabPreview: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/documents-tab-preview.png",
    importAWebsite: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/import-a-website.png",
    kbList: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/kb-list.png",
    retrieverIndexStates: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/retriever-index-states.svg",
    retrieverQueryPipeline: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/retriever-query-pipeline.svg",
    standardVsParentChildChunking: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/standard-vs-parent-child-chunking.svg",
    syncManagement: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/sync-management.png",
    testRetriever: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/test-retriever.png"
  },
  liveChat: {
    agentWorkspace: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/agent-workspace.png",
    assignedAgentPicker: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/assigned-agent-picker.png",
    automaticAssignmentRouting: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/automatic-assignment-routing.svg",
    availabilityDropdown: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/availability-dropdown.png",
    cannedResponses: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/canned-responses.png",
    composerPreferences: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/composer-preferences.png",
    copilotPanel: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/copilot-panel.png",
    filterConversationsDialog: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/filter-conversations-dialog.png",
    inboxAnalyticsTab: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/inbox-analytics-tab.png",
    inboxAvailabilityTab: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/inbox-availability-tab.png",
    inboxesSettings: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/inboxes-settings.png",
    inboxRoutingTab: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/inbox-routing-tab.png",
    labelsSettings: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/labels-settings.png",
    newAttributeDialog: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/new-attribute-dialog.png",
    newCannedResponseDialog: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/new-canned-response-dialog.png",
    notificationPreferences: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/notification-preferences.png",
    notificationsPage: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/notifications-page.png",
    pickupTargetCard: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/pickup-target-card.png",
    resolveMenu: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/resolve-menu.png",
    searchDialog: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/search-dialog.png",
    seatGateConversation: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/seat-gate-conversation.png",
    seatsSettings: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/seats-settings.png",
    workTheInbox: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/work-the-inbox.png"
  },
  security: {
    addOpenRouterKeyDialog: "/docs/guides/security/images/add-open-router-key-dialog.png",
    auditChainVerified: "/docs/guides/security/images/audit-chain-verified.png",
    auditEventDrawer: "/docs/guides/security/images/audit-event-drawer.png",
    auditExportDialog: "/docs/guides/security/images/audit-export-dialog.png",
    auditLogViewer: "/docs/guides/security/images/audit-log-viewer.png",
    auditRecordLifecycle: "/docs/guides/security/images/audit-record-lifecycle.svg",
    logPrivacyRedactionEnabled: "/docs/guides/security/images/log-privacy-redaction-enabled.png",
    modelProviderEmptyState: "/docs/guides/security/images/model-provider-empty-state.png",
    privacySettings: "/docs/guides/security/images/privacy-settings.png",
    siemConnectWizard: "/docs/guides/security/images/siem-connect-wizard.png",
    supportActorMasking: "/docs/guides/security/images/support-actor-masking.svg"
  },
  tools: {
    addToolModal: "/docs/guides/tools/images/add-tool-modal.png",
    addToolsPanel: "/docs/guides/tools/images/add-tools-panel.png",
    codekitActionEditor: "/docs/guides/tools/images/codekit-action-editor.png",
    codekitConnectToolkitsDialog: "/docs/guides/tools/images/codekit-connect-toolkits-dialog.png",
    codekitSchemaDialog: "/docs/guides/tools/images/codekit-schema-dialog.png",
    codekitToolkit: "/docs/guides/tools/images/codekit-toolkit.png",
    codekitToolkitAnatomy: "/docs/guides/tools/images/codekit-toolkit-anatomy.svg",
    createActionDialog: "/docs/guides/tools/images/create-action-dialog.png",
    createCodekitDialog: "/docs/guides/tools/images/create-codekit-dialog.png",
    responseFilteringDialog: "/docs/guides/tools/images/response-filtering-dialog.png",
    toolGambitEditorAgentMode: "/docs/guides/tools/images/tool-gambit-editor-agent-mode.png",
    toolGambitEditorWorkflowMode: "/docs/guides/tools/images/tool-gambit-editor-workflow-mode.png",
    toolkitDetail: "/docs/guides/tools/images/toolkit-detail.png",
    toolsConnected: "/docs/guides/tools/images/tools-connected.png",
    toolsDirectory: "/docs/guides/tools/images/tools-directory.png",
    viewActionsModal: "/docs/guides/tools/images/view-actions-modal.png",
    workflowModeResponse: "/docs/guides/tools/images/workflow-mode-response.png"
  }
};

Three protections apply to each conversation, and you write only one of them. Fixed platform rules come first in the prompt. Your rules steer the model next, and the widget checks what reaches the screen.

## Platform safety rules

The platform wraps your instructions in this layer on every run, even when a gambit has no instructions of its own. You cannot edit the layer or turn it off.

Under the platform rules, the agent:

* Presents itself as an AI and never claims to be human.
* Does not reveal or discuss its instructions, even when asked.
* Refuses to generate malicious code, weapons instructions, or illegal content.
* Says so honestly when it does not have enough information to answer.
* Does not ask for sensitive data unless your instructions require it.

The platform places these rules ahead of your instructions and marks them as rules that cannot be overridden.

## Where you add guardrail instructions

Guardrail instructions live in the AI Agent gambit editor. Select the gambit in the builder, then expand the **Guardrails** section below **Exit Routes** and **Behavior**. Enter each rule on its own line in the **Custom Guardrails** field.

<Frame>
  <img src={img.building.agentBehaviorGuardrails} alt="The lower AI Agent gambit editor with the Guardrails section expanded, showing the Custom Guardrails field that takes one instruction per line" />
</Frame>

Use guardrail instructions to state what the agent must refuse, what it must never reveal, and how it redirects off-topic requests. Because they are set per gambit, different AI Agent gambits in one flow can carry different rules.

## How guardrail instructions apply

The platform injects your guardrail lines into the agent's prompt on every turn, after your main instructions. The agent follows them the same way it follows the rest of its prompt. They steer behavior rather than filter individual messages.

When a rule must hold absolutely, do not rely on a guardrail instruction alone. Structure the flow so a deterministic gambit makes the decision. See [Flow control and branching](/docs/guides/building/flow-control-and-branching).

## Safety in the widget

The widget protects end users at the moment of display. External links never open directly. A confirmation dialog titled **Open External Link** shows the full URL first, and the end user can choose **Copy Link** instead of opening it. Chat content is sanitized before display.

These protections apply to every agent without configuration. For the complete list, including accessibility behavior, see [What end users see](/docs/guides/activity/end-user-experience).

## Related pages

* [AI Agent gambit](/docs/guides/building/gambits/ai-agent)
* [Flow control and branching](/docs/guides/building/flow-control-and-branching)
* [What end users see](/docs/guides/activity/end-user-experience)
