# AI Skills

## What are AI Skills?

AI Skills store reusable instructions.

They are suitable for guidance that should be applied repeatedly, such as
writing rules, review steps, coding standards, or project instructions.

AI Skills are separate from normal Memories. Memories store saved context.
Skills store reusable instructions.

## Why Skills help AI

A short preference can describe an expected style, but a repeatable task often
needs an ordered method. A Skill gives a connected AI a reusable process with
the steps, checks, and expected result kept together.

This can reduce missed steps and inconsistent execution across conversations.
For example, a document-review Skill can require clarity checks, factual claim
identification, and a final change summary every time it is used.

Skills remain inspectable and can be kept as drafts until the instructions are
understood and ready for activation.

Account limits apply to the number of saved AI Skills and to AI-assisted
refactors. The current allowance is shown in **Settings > AI Skills** and can
change when account plans are introduced or updated. Manual review and editing
remain available without presenting a fixed allowance in this guide.

## Supported sources

- **SKILL.md**
- **AGENTS.md**
- **CLAUDE.md**
- generic Markdown or text guidance
- a Memside AI Skill JSON export
- a selected AI Skill from a published Library Template

The original source is preserved. An imported Skill starts as a draft so it can
be reviewed before activation.

Library Template imports follow the same boundary. A selected Skill is saved as
a draft even when other reviewed Template items become active during import.

## Import a Skill

1. Open **Settings > AI Skills**.
2. Choose the source type.
3. Import or paste the instruction source.
4. Review the structured result.
5. Save it as a draft.
6. Activate it only after review.

## Improved versions

A Skill can have one improved version:

- **Detailed** keeps fuller instructions.
- **Compact** keeps a shorter version.

Use **Improve with Memside AI** when available. **Manual refactor prompt**
copies a prompt that can be used in another AI tool.

## Use with connected AI tools

A connected AI tool can:

- list available Skills;
- read a selected Skill;
- read the original source when needed;
- use the improved version when available;
- save an improved draft for review.

Activation remains separate from editing. This makes it possible to import,
improve, and review a Skill before it becomes active.

## Generic example

A writing review Skill might require:

```text
Check spelling and clarity.
Keep paragraphs short.
List factual claims that need verification.
Do not change the intended meaning.
```

## Next steps

- [User AI Profile](/product/user-ai-profile/)
- [Operating Rules and AI Skills](/product/profile-rules-skills/)
- [Connect an AI](/connect/mcp-and-api/)
- [Add a Template to Memside](/library/add-to-memside/)