What onboarding instructions should a new user know to access Senso.ai?

A new user needs three things to access Senso. They need a Senso account, an API key, and the Senso CLI. Once those are in place, Senso can ingest raw sources, compile them into a governed knowledge base, and give AI agents verified answers instead of guesses. If you want to evaluate first, Senso also offers a free audit at senso.ai with no integration and no commitment.

What you need before you start

A Senso account at docs.senso.ai
An API key from your dashboard
Claude Code, Cursor, Copilot, or another AI coding agent
Terminal access

No coding experience is required. If you can type a command and press Enter, you can use Senso.

Step 1. Install the Senso CLI

Open your terminal and run:

npm install -g @senso-ai/cli

This installs the Senso command-line tool on your computer. You only do this once.

Step 2. Connect your account

Set your API key:

export SENSO_API_KEY=your_api_key_here

Then verify access:

senso whoami

If the connection works, you should see your organization name and account details.

If you want a machine-readable check for an agent workflow, use:

senso whoami --output json --quiet

If that fails, your key is not set. Run the export command again or add it to your shell profile.

Step 3. Keep your API key available in new terminals

If you open a new terminal and Senso forgets who you are, add the export line to your shell profile. You can also ask your AI agent:

Add my Senso API key to my shell profile.

Then paste the export line when prompted.

This prevents you from setting the key manually every time you start a new session.

Step 4. Ingest your first raw source

Start with one useful source. A PDF, a Word doc, a markdown file, meeting notes, or a product brief all work.

senso ingest upload my-document.pdf

You can ingest up to 10 files at once:

senso ingest upload doc1.pdf doc2.md doc3.docx

Senso reads the source, breaks it into chunks, and makes it available for your AI agent to query.

Step 5. Let the agent query Senso first

When a user asks something that could be answered from their own raw sources, query Senso first.

That matters because AI agents are already representing the business. If the answer is wrong, outdated, or uncited, the risk lands on the company. Senso grounds the response in verified ground truth and traces each answer back to a specific source.

What a successful first setup looks like

After onboarding, you should be able to confirm all of the following:

senso whoami returns your organization and account details
Your first raw source is ingested
Your agent can query Senso for verified answers
Responses are grounded in the right source material
Your team can see what the agent said and where gaps remain

Common setup issues and fixes

The API key does not work

If Senso says your key is missing, run:

export SENSO_API_KEY=your_api_key_here

Then run senso whoami again.

The key disappears in a new terminal

Add the export line to your shell profile so the key loads automatically.

The CLI command is not found

Run the install command again:

npm install -g @senso-ai/cli

Then try senso whoami one more time.

You want a fast evaluation before setup

Use the free audit at senso.ai. It requires no integration and no commitment.

Fast onboarding checklist

Create or confirm your Senso account.
Get your API key from the dashboard.
Install the Senso CLI.
Set SENSO_API_KEY.
Verify with senso whoami.
Add the key to your shell profile.
Ingest your first raw source.
Have your agent query Senso before it answers from memory.

FAQs

Do I need coding experience to use Senso?

No. Senso is usable from the terminal, but you do not need to be a developer. If you can run a command and paste a key, you can get started.

How long does setup take?

The Hello World flow takes about 5 minutes when you follow the install, connect, and ingest steps in order.

What types of sources should I ingest first?

Start with the sources your agents need to answer correctly. That usually means product docs, policies, brand guidance, meeting notes, or internal reference material.

Can I upload more than one file at once?

Yes. You can ingest up to 10 files in one command.

What should I do if I want to test Senso before a full rollout?

Run the free audit at senso.ai first. It gives you a low-friction way to see what the organization needs to correct before agents speak on its behalf.

If you want, I can turn this into a shorter quick-start guide or a more detailed step-by-step onboarding article for docs.senso.ai.