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How to Connect AI Agents to Existing Systems

Quick answer

The safe way to connect systems today is to let the plan show you which apps are missing, connect them through the current in-product flow, verify the connection completed, and reconnect an app if it later needs attention.

The safe way to connect systems today is to let the plan show you which apps are missing, connect them through the current in-product flow, verify the connection completed, and reconnect an app if it later needs attention.

8 min readUpdated 20 March 2026

Why connection strategy matters

An agent job is only as reliable as its app connections. If the required app is missing or expired, validation and deployment stall until the connection issue is dealt with.

The safest public claim boundary here is not a generic guide to every auth method on the internet. It is the actual product flow: auth gaps, current connect actions, verified connection status, and reconnect handling when a connection expires.

Connection steps

1. Let the plan tell you what is missing

Start with the workflow, not the integrations page. If the builder needs an app before validation or deploy can proceed, it will surface that as an auth gap.

That keeps connection work tied to the actual workflow instead of connecting tools you may not use.

2. Use the current in-product connection flow

Connect apps from the builder or from the integrations screen. The current product flow is designed to confirm whether the connection actually completed before you treat the app as ready.

3. Verify the app is ready before deploy

After the popup or connection flow finishes, make sure the app is actually connected. Do not move on just because the auth window opened.

4. Reconnect when an app needs attention again

If an app later needs reconnect work, treat that as an operational issue instead of pushing ahead. The safe public claim is simply that app connections can need attention again, and you should confirm the app is ready before you rely on the agent.

5. Keep the connected-app list aligned with the job

Once the agent is live, the connected apps shown on the agent should still match what the plan needs. If an app is no longer used, remove that dependency from the plan instead of letting the connection sprawl.

Connection surfaces

SurfaceUse it forWhat it tells you
Builder auth gapsSee which apps block validation or deployShows exactly what the current agent job still needs
Connect actionsOpen the current connection flow for that appHelps you connect and verify instead of guessing
Integrations screenReview current connected and disconnected appsGives you one place to reconnect or confirm status
Connection status and reconnect promptsAct when a live connection needs attention againTells you an app needs attention before you rely on it again

Best practices

  • Start from the workflow. Connect only the apps the current plan actually needs.
  • Use the current in-product flow. Let the app open and verify the connection instead of treating auth as a manual side task.
  • Verify after connecting. A popup opening is not the same thing as a completed connection.
  • Reconnect when an app needs attention.Confirm the app is ready again before you rely on the agent.
  • Keep claims precise. Stay with the connection and reconnect flow the product currently proves.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know what apps I need to connect?

The builder shows auth gaps when an agent job needs a connection before validation or launch can continue. Start there instead of guessing.

Where can I connect apps?

Use the connect actions inside the builder when a plan has auth gaps, or connect apps directly from the integrations screen in the app.

What happens if a connection expires or breaks?

Treat it as reconnect work inside the product. The safe public claim is that an app can need attention again after the first connection, and you should confirm the app is ready before relying on the agent.

Can one agent use more than one connected app?

Yes. The plan can include multiple connected apps when the workflow needs them, but each app should be connected and verified before deployment.