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AI Agent Capabilities

The AI agent is a full tool-calling system. It receives context about your current workspace (active images, channels, zoom, metadata) and dispatches actions both in the browser and on the server.

Available tools

ToolDescription
analyze_imageRun Cellpose segmentation to count and analyze cells
run_modelLaunch any scientific model (SAM3, DeepLabCut, Suite2p, etc.)
adjust_imagePrecise adjustments: brightness, contrast, gamma, saturation, hue, blur, color balance, background removal
adjust_image_nlNatural language adjustments (“make it brighter”, “increase contrast”)
transform_objectRotate, scale, flip, skew, reposition objects
generate_imageGenerate images from text prompts via Google Imagen
generate_pipelineAI-generate a multi-step processing pipeline
pipeline_manageCreate, edit, reorder, and save pipeline steps
pipeline_explainExplain each pipeline step’s scientific rationale
pipeline_previewRun a draft pipeline on the current image
pipeline_batchBatch-process multiple images through a pipeline
model_estimate_costGet cost breakdown for a pipeline (GPU vs. free steps)
search_webSearch the web and return a synthesized answer
get_job_statusPoll a running model job’s status and results
ask_followupPresent structured follow-up questions as interactive chips

Image analysis

Cell counting

Ask the agent to count cells and it will use Cellpose segmentation to detect and count cells in your image. Example prompts:
  • “Count all cells in this image”
  • “How many blue cells are there?”
  • “Count cells and show me a chart”
Blue cell counting uses HSV color analysis to classify cells by color after Cellpose detection.

Cell segmentation

The agent can run SAM3 (Segment Anything Model 3) for interactive segmentation:
  • Click points to segment specific objects
  • Draw bounding boxes for region-based segmentation
  • Use text prompts like “segment red neurons” or “find cell nuclei”

Image adjustments

Ask the agent to adjust images using natural language:
  • “Make it darker” — adjusts brightness
  • “Increase contrast” — adjusts contrast
  • “Apply grayscale” — converts to grayscale
  • “Remove the background” — background removal with threshold
  • “Invert the colors” — color inversion
  • “Add some blur” — applies blur filter

Object transforms

Manipulate objects on the canvas via natural language:
  • “Rotate it 90 degrees”
  • “Flip horizontally”
  • “Scale it to 50%“

Image generation

Generate images from text descriptions using Google Imagen:
  • “Generate a diagram of a neuron”
  • “Create a schematic of a microscope setup”

Scientific figures

Generate publication-ready 3x3 figure grids:
  • Original images in row 1
  • Size distribution charts in row 2
  • Segmentation results in row 3
  • Includes scale bars, statistics overlay, and cell count labels
Example prompt: “Create a scientific figure from these three images”

Edge detection & background removal

  • Request edge detection using Sobel or Canny methods
  • Ask for background removal with configurable thresholds

Context awareness

The agent automatically receives context about your workspace on every request:
  • Active pane state — file name, type, dimensions, channels, Z-slice, time point
  • Scientific metadata — pixel scale, channel wavelengths, acquisition date, magnification, objective
  • Selected region — if you’ve selected a region, the agent knows its bounds
  • Available models — which models can process the current file type
  • Current pipeline — if you have a draft pipeline open
This means the agent gives contextually relevant responses — it knows what you’re looking at.

Code execution

The AI agent can write and execute custom Python code in a sandboxed Docker environment.

How it works

  1. The agent generates Python code based on your request
  2. Code is validated against security rules (no network access, no system commands)
  3. A Docker container runs the code with your input files mounted
  4. Output files (images, CSV, numpy arrays) are saved and displayed

Available packages

The sandbox includes 21 pre-approved scientific Python packages:
CategoryPackages
Core dataNumPy, Pandas, SciPy, xarray
Imagingscikit-image, OpenCV, Pillow, tifffile
MLPyTorch, scikit-learn
NeurosciencePyNWB, Neo, Elephant
VisualizationMatplotlib, Seaborn
I/Oh5py, zarr

Execution limits

LimitValue
Max code size1 MB
Max output size5 GB
Max runtime1 hour
Max memory32 GB
Max output files100
Network accessDisabled

Security

Code execution is fully sandboxed:
  • No network access — outbound connections are disabled
  • No system commands — subprocess, os.system, eval, exec are blocked
  • Read-only code — the /code directory is read-only
  • Non-root user — runs as uid=1000
  • Restricted filesystem — only /input and /output directories are accessible
  • Package allowlist — only pre-approved packages can be installed

File organization

The AI agent can intelligently organize your files into folder structures: Example prompt: “Organize my files by experiment” Available organization strategies:
  • Auto — AI determines the best grouping
  • By date — group files by creation date
  • By type — group files by format/modality
  • By experiment — detect experiment names from file naming patterns (BIDS, dated formats, mouse01_trial03 patterns)
  • Flatten — flatten deeply nested folder structures
The agent proposes a folder structure and file moves (up to 5,000 files, max 15 folders). You preview the changes before applying them. Files are never renamed — only moved.

Pipeline generation & management

The agent has deep pipeline integration:
  • Generate — describe a goal and the agent creates a multi-step pipeline
  • Explain — ask the agent to explain why each step is included
  • Preview — run the pipeline on your current image to preview results
  • Batch process — run the pipeline across multiple images with progress tracking
  • Cost estimate — get a cost breakdown before running (GPU steps vs. free client-side steps)
  • Edit — ask the agent to add, remove, or reorder pipeline steps
Example prompts:
  • “Create a pipeline to segment cells, count them, and export the results”
  • “Explain this pipeline step by step”
  • “Run this pipeline on all images in my folder”
  • “How much will this pipeline cost to run?”
See Building Pipelines for more details.

Session limits

LimitValue
Requests per session50
Max input length1,200 characters