# What Neo is

Neo is Centra AI's general-purpose agent for conversation, research, creation, and task execution. Use it for a quick answer, a polished deliverable, or a multi-step project that combines tools and files.

## A useful mental model

Think of Neo as a collaborator that can:

1. **Understand the goal** — including context, audience, constraints, and desired output.
2. **Plan the work** — turn a broad objective into manageable steps.
3. **Use available tools** — browse, inspect files, create artifacts, schedule work, and more.
4. **Show progress** — surface decisions, blockers, and uncertainty during complex work.
5. **Return a deliverable** — with evidence, caveats, and suggested checks.

You remain the decision-maker. Neo can accelerate judgment, but it does not replace it.

## Where to begin

Start with the outcome rather than a feature name:

> I need a two-page briefing for our leadership meeting. Use the attached notes, distinguish facts from assumptions, and end with three decisions we need to make.

A good first request names the goal, audience, source material, boundaries, and output format. You can refine any of those in follow-up messages.

## What Neo can help with

- Explain a difficult concept at a particular level.
- Compare options and recommend a path.
- Research a topic and cite supporting evidence.
- Turn rough notes into a polished document.
- Inspect a spreadsheet, document, image, or workspace.
- Plan and execute a bounded multi-step project.
- Create or modify an image when that capability is available.
- Set a reminder or recurring task when scheduling is available.

## What to expect in a conversation

Simple requests may produce a direct answer. Complex requests may lead Neo to ask a clarifying question, propose a plan, use tools, create files, or report a blocker. If the work is consequential, ask for assumptions, evidence, and a validation summary.

## Stay in control

Before sending, publishing, deploying, or relying on an important result:

- confirm that the sources support the claims;
- open and review generated files;
- check calculations, names, dates, recipients, and links;
- make sure completed work is clearly distinguished from proposed work;
- get qualified review for legal, medical, financial, or other high-stakes decisions.

Next, learn how to structure [your first conversation](/docs/getting-started/first-conversation) and write [effective requests](/docs/getting-started/effective-requests).