A plugin is just a folder

A year ago everyone was talking about agents. Maybe you built a few yourself. One for your quotes, one that checks your texts, one that does research. And now you open ChatGPT or Claude, and suddenly there is a button with plugins. You might wonder if you have to start all over again.

In a training course on skills and agentic AI I paused on that for a moment, because I see that confusion often. There is really nothing new under the sun. A plugin is a folder with instructions and skills, and sometimes some small scripts. What you have already built, you can just take with you.

Copy the prompt at the bottom of this article. With that you let your AI propose a plugin for your own team, based on what you already use.

What has actually changed

I once had dozens of specialised agents myself. When I look at them now, they were just instructions and context in Markdown. It was nothing more than that. You had an agent that was a coach, one that was a copywriter, and one that was an HR assistant. And you had to choose which one you were going to talk to every time.

The way of looking at it is different now. Copilot, ChatGPT or Claude is your agent itself. And you give that agent capabilities, by giving it tools, skills and knowledge. You then package those capabilities in a plugin. So on the bottom line little changes, because a skill is also instructions, knowledge and tools.

It is a bit funny. For years the same companies pushed the word agents, and now they apparently want to get rid of it again. In the new screens you see the word plugins pop up where it used to say agents. You do not need to let that confuse you.

A plugin bundles your skills and connectors in one package, so you can share it within your organisation.

Frequently asked questions

What is a plugin in an AI app?

A folder with instructions, skills and sometimes small scripts. It gives the AI app you already use extra capabilities for a certain type of work.

Is a plugin the same as an agent?

An agent was actually also an instruction with context, so the difference is small. Now the app itself is your agent, and you give it capabilities via plugins.

Can I share a plugin with my team?

Yes, and that is exactly what it is meant for. You bundle the skills of one team, so everyone works in the same way. Always read through a plugin from the internet first before you install it.

Where do I learn to build skills and plugins?

In the Claude AI Power User and AI agents training courses you build your own skills. Have a look at Workshops & Events.

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