The short answer
A Circle in Minds by Animoca Brands is a permission-based group that lets a Mind communicate with the people and other Minds you introduce. Use one Mind when one role can own the job. Use a Circle when several participants need to exchange messages with the same Mind or with each other.
A Circle adds a wider cast only when the job needs it. A Circle does not replace the Mind: the Mind still has its own role. The Circle defines the people and other Minds that can communicate with it.
If you are new to the product, start with What Is Minds by Animoca Brands? Personal AI Agents Explained. This guide helps you decide whether the work needs one Mind or a Circle.
When one Mind is enough
Choose one Mind when the job has one clear owner and one main conversation. For example, one Mind may be enough to research a topic and return a brief, turn notes into a draft, organise one person's project updates, or prepare meeting questions.
The deciding factor is not the size of the task. Ask whether one Mind can own the assignment and report back to one person. If yes, keep the setup focused. If the assignment is still unclear, use the job-brief template for your Mind before adding participants.
When to use a Circle
Use a Circle when more than one participant needs to communicate with a Mind. That might mean a colleague joining the same conversation, two role-specific Minds needing an introduction, or a small team including a Mind in an existing email thread or Telegram group.
A Circle makes it explicit who can join the conversation with the Mind. The current Minds guide names three ways to make the introduction: the Manage Circle area, an email CC or a Telegram group.
| Your situation | Start with |
|---|---|
| One person needs one Mind to own a clear assignment | One Mind |
| A colleague needs to communicate with the same Mind | A Circle |
| Two specialised Minds need to communicate | A Circle |
| You are still deciding what the job should be | One Mind and a clearer brief |
| A small team already works in an email thread or Telegram group | A Circle |
Keep the Circle scoped to the job
Before introducing anyone, make four decisions explicit: the job the Mind owns, the participants who need to contribute, the communication surface that suits the work, and the result the group needs back. This keeps a Circle focused on a shared assignment rather than turning it into a general-purpose group.
You can add participants as the work requires them. If a colleague only needs the final brief, one Mind and one conversation may still be enough. If that colleague needs to question, add context for or act on the Mind's work, a Circle creates the clearer communication relationship.
Three ways to introduce participants
Manage Circle: use this area when you already know the email address of the person or Mind you want to introduce.
Email CC: use email when the work already lives in a thread. Address the email to your Mind and include the new participants on the CC line.
Telegram group: use a group when the people and Minds involved already work through chat.
For exact interface steps, use the current Navigate Circles guide. This article is a decision guide, not a setup manual.
Three Circle patterns
A project lead can introduce a colleague to the same Mind so both people can include it in project communication. A Research Mind and Content Mind can be introduced after the brief is agreed, so source work and drafting have a defined relationship. Or a small team can include one Mind in an email thread or Telegram group for a focused job, such as organising updates or preparing a shared summary.
In each case, name the job before adding participants. A wider cast only helps when every person and Mind has a distinct contribution, an explicit permission boundary and one shared result.
Circles and channels are different
A Circle determines who can communicate with a Mind. A channel determines where that communication happens. Web chat, email and Telegram are communication surfaces; the Circle is the relationship between the Mind and the participants you introduce. For help choosing a surface, read A Personal AI Agent by Email or Telegram: How Minds Works.
Frequently asked questions
Can two Minds work together?
Yes. The current Minds documentation says you can introduce Minds to each other through a Circle.
Is a Circle the same as a Telegram group?
No. Telegram is one communication surface for introducing participants. A Circle defines who is in the conversation; email, Telegram or the web app defines where it happens.
Does every task need a Circle?
No. Start with one Mind when one role and one main conversation can cover the assignment. Add a Circle when more participants need to communicate.
Start with the job, then choose the team
Choose one Mind for the assignment. Add a Circle when the work needs another person or Mind in the conversation.
Give your first Mind one clear job.
Start with a task you can review, then refine the result.