What to do if Your AI Agent Stops Working

Our AI agents work dynamically in the background to handle heavy-lift research, file processing, and inbox triage. If an agent seems to stop midway through a task, it is rarely a system crash—usually, they are simply waiting for your human input or navigating a complex data loop. Here is how to diagnose and resolve communication bottlenecks with your digital workforce.

Last updated 14 days ago

The Status Button

Think of the main action button in your chat window as a simple traffic signal:

  • ⏹️ STOP Indicator: The agent is actively "thinking," running background scripts, or processing uploaded files. Let them finish!

  • ▶️ PLAY / SEND Indicator: The agent is idling and ready for your next instruction.

How to Re-Engage Your Agent

If you see the SEND button but expected more output or a finalized document, don't hesitate to ask your agent for a status update directly in the chat:

“What is the current status of my request?”

“Do you need any additional information from me to finish?”

“Are you finished with the task I assigned, or is there a next step?”

Check Before You Prompt

Before typing a brand-new command, always read the agent's last response carefully. Smooth collaboration relies on a two-way street:

  • Check for Questions: Did the agent ask you a clarifying question? They cannot proceed until you answer.

  • Provide the Answer First: Address their specific question before giving them an entirely new assignment.

  • Confirm Completion: Explicitly confirm whether they completed the task to your satisfaction or if they still need your directional guidance.

Quick Technical Troubleshooting

If your agent remains completely frozen and the chat interface is entirely unresponsive, follow these standard steps:

  1. Be Patient with Deep Tasks: Complex background workflows (like Galen's live web research or Ava's multi-document legal compliance comparisons) take a few moments to synthesize. Watch the status indicators.

  2. Clear Your Browser Cache: If the interface glitches, clear your internet browser's cache and cookies for the day.

  3. Refresh and Re-Log In: Refresh your browser window or completely log out of 913.AI and log back in to reset your active session server connection.