Getting Started

Core concepts: AI modules, Cortex, agents, credits, and autonomy

Five ideas explain everything in Brainis. Learn them once and every screen makes sense.

2 min read
On this page5

Brainis has a lot of surface area, but it is built from five repeating ideas.

1. AI modules

An AI module is a department-grade tool: Revenue AI is a full CRM, Hiring AI is a full applicant tracking system, People AI is a full HR platform. They all share the same data layer, so a candidate hired in Hiring AI becomes an employee in People AI without an export, and a closed deal in Revenue AI can raise an invoice in Finance AI.

Some former standalone modules now live inside a parent module: People AI absorbed Payroll, Performance, Learning, Rewards, and Wellness; Hiring AI absorbed recruitment marketing; Operations absorbed Delivery, Customer Success, and Knowledge.

2. Cortex

Cortex is the AI brain across every module. It answers questions grounded in your data, runs plays (pre-built analyses and workflows), generates deliverables, and can operate on a schedule through Autopilot. Cortex is a layer, not a module: it sees across departments, which is what makes cross-cutting questions like "which deals are at risk because delivery slipped" answerable.

3. Agents

Three kinds of AI workers exist, and the distinction matters:

KindWhat it isWhere
AI AgentsAgents you build or install from the marketplaceCommand Center, Agents
AI ManagersBuilt-in autonomous managers per AI moduleCommand Center, AI Managers
Cortex FleetThe run log of everything AI has doneCortex, Fleet

See Agents overview.

4. Credits

AI work costs credits; your plan covers everything else. One credit covers roughly 2,000 tokens of AI processing. A quick Cortex answer costs about 2 credits; a deep analysis costs about 10. Every plan includes a monthly allowance, and top-up packs never expire. See How credits work.

5. Governed autonomy

Every AI-originated write goes through one gateway that checks autonomy level, permission scope, risk, and budget, then records the action in an audit chain with undo where possible. You set how independent the AI is per module or per agent with authority contracts. See Authority contracts.

Tip: If you remember one thing: every plan includes every module, AI work costs credits, and you control how much the AI may do on its own.

Still need help?

Our support team is available around the clock.

Contact Support