Bot Mode is a Hermes Desktop feature that turns your agent profiles into a roster of named, persistent Bots instead of one generic assistant. Each Bot is a real Hermes profile with its own role, pinned model, memory, skills, custom persona file and profile picture, and Bots can message each other and take on recurring scheduled routines. It shipped bundled and default-on in Hermes Agent v0.20.3 (GitHub tag v2026.8.16.2), released 16 August 2026, and can be switched off in Settings to Plugins.
Welcome to the future of AI interaction, where your virtual assistants aren’t just nameless entities but actual personalities with names, skills, and maybe even a penchant for small talk. Yes, you heard that right! Nous Research has just rolled out Bot Mode for their Hermes Agent, and it’s about to revolutionize how we think about AI-powered bots. So, grab your coffee, sit back, and let’s dive into this exciting new feature that’s as cool as it sounds.
What Is Bot Mode?
Bot Mode is like turning your single-agent session list into a bustling bot community, each with its own unique profile. Picture this: instead of just one lonely agent waiting for your commands, you now have a whole roster of named bots ready to chat, share memories (because who doesn’t love a good trip down memory lane?), and tackle tasks together. It’s like the Avengers, but for AI—minus the capes and, unfortunately, the superpowers.
How Does It Work?
Underneath all the coolness, Bot Mode operates on a pretty straightforward premise. Each bot is essentially a Hermes profile living in its own little bubble of configuration, memory, skills, and chat history. In tech terms, this means that every bot exists within a directory structure that looks like this: ~/.hermes/profiles/
Bots communicate through a persistent Agent Inbox, where they can @mention each other to pass on tasks. So, if you need to hand off a project from your research bot to your writing bot, you simply @mention it. Easy peasy! It’s like sending a text message, but instead of your friend ignoring it, you get a full report back.
Deploying Bot Mode
Now, if you’re wondering, “Is this deployable?” the answer is a resounding yes! You can start using Bot Mode today on your desktop at no licensing cost. It was initially launched as a one-day public beta plugin, but it’s now bundled and default-on within Hermes Desktop. Just head over to Settings → Plugins and voilà, you’re in business!
Who Can Use It?
Bot Mode is perfect for solo builders, startups, and small to mid-sized engineering teams. If you’re an enterprise, though, you might want to think of it more as a workstation tool rather than a managed infrastructure solution. There’s no admin console, no SSO, and no central audit log. Basically, if you’re in a heavily regulated industry, you’ll want to set up your own controls around it. So, while it’s fantastic for small teams, larger organizations may need to tread lightly.
Industries That Will Love It
Bot Mode is a game changer for various sectors, including software engineering, AI research labs, technical media, developer relations, and IT operations. If you’re in any of these fields, you’ll find applications for these bots that can streamline processes and improve collaboration.
Applications Galore
Imagine having a research bot that’s pinned to a reasoning model sitting right next to a writing bot that’s on a budget model. You could set up scheduled inbox digests and nightly reports, or create per-project agents that don’t leak context into each other. And let’s not forget the handoff chains—where a scout bot, a reviewer bot, and a publisher bot pass work along by @mentioning each other, making collaboration seamless.
Configuration Made Easy
The configuration process for these bots is user-friendly. The New Agent dialog allows you to set up a bot’s name, title, and description with ease. If you want to get fancy, there’s an Advanced disclosure that opens up the full profile configuration. You can clone existing profiles, pin a provider and model, or even write a custom SOUL.md (yes, that’s a thing).
Right-clicking on a bot gives you options to edit its profile live, which includes adjusting skills and tools. It’s like being a bot parent—except you don’t have to worry about them running away or getting into trouble.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Nous Research’s Bot Mode for Hermes Agent is not just an upgrade; it’s a whole new way of thinking about how we interact with AI. With named bots that can communicate, collaborate, and even remember past interactions, it’s like having a team of virtual assistants who are always ready to lend a hand (or a byte). So, if you haven’t already, give Bot Mode a whirl and see how it can transform your workflow. Who knows? You might just end up naming your favorite bot after your childhood pet!
Inspired by: “Meet Your New AI Friends: The Bot Mode Revolution in Hermes Agent”