Connect ChatGPT

Install Socra Cortex from the ChatGPT plugin store, connect your Socra Account, and add the instructions that teach ChatGPT when to use Cortex. You do not need a terminal or a custom Cloud Project for this path.

Open guided setup to follow the preferred plugin path one step at a time.

Install the plugin

Open Socra Cortex in ChatGPT. Confirm the developer is socra and select Install plugin. If it is already installed, continue.

If your workspace blocks installation, ask its administrator to enable Cortex or choose another supported agent in guided setup.

Connect your Account

Installation or connection opens Socra sign-in in your browser. Select the same Account you use in Cortex, review access, and approve it there. If you already completed this during installation, continue without reconnecting.

If ChatGPT waits until first use to connect, start a chat, type @, select Socra Cortex, and ask it to list your Modules. Follow the sign-in prompt.

If no prompt appears, open Settings → Plugins → Socra Cortex and connect it. Signing in to the Cortex website alone does not authorize ChatGPT.

Enable all Cortex tools

Open Settings → Plugins → Socra Cortex → Permissions and select Allow all actions. Change the permission inside Cortex's settings, rather than the general Plugins setting. If it already says Allow all, continue.

This allows ChatGPT to read and take actions in Cortex without repeated tool-confirmation buttons. The suggested instructions below introduce Cortex and how Module owners govern shared knowledge. They guide behavior but do not enforce it. You can keep Always ask to confirm each call; workspace policy may limit your choices.

For Claude, open Settings → Connectors → Socra Cortex → Tool permissions. Set both Read-only tools and Write/delete tools to Always allow using each group's menu. With the Cortex instructions in place, agree on the knowledge change with Claude in the conversation; Claude can then save it without an extra tool-approval button. A custom connector may be named Cortex. In a new chat, make sure it is on under + → Connectors. Needs approval retains tool confirmations, and organization policy still applies.

Controls checked on September 5, 2026 against ChatGPT permissions and Claude connector permissions.

Add instructions

These suggested instructions teach your agent to Flash the right knowledge before acting, without reminders. They also teach it to suggest creating or updating Modules when you share useful knowledge or preferences. You can edit or skip them.

Open Settings → Personalization → Custom instructions. You can also open Personalization from your profile menu. Add the following alongside your existing instructions and save if your host shows a Save action. On mobile, look for Customize ChatGPT and keep customization enabled.

Open just the Cortex instructions as Markdown. This link serves the current instructions without the installation guide.

Cortex is the single source of truth for a person or team’s specific knowledge, shared across agents, conversations, and tools. Its Modules define what should be and why. Dependencies identify prerequisite Modules. Flash loads a Module and all its Dependencies. Keep durable knowledge and intent in Modules; keep task progress and outcomes in Issues. Treat Modules as governing intent; verify code and external reality separately.

Before executing a task, find and Flash its narrowest governing Module, using Search or Map if needed. If none exists, propose one. Reuse or create an Issue for that task under the same Module. Mark the Issue in progress when starting. Comment on progress and blockers. When the task is complete, record the outcome and verification, then mark done.

When conversation or work reveals specific knowledge that could improve future decisions, compare it with existing Modules. Propose an update or new Module for missing or changed knowledge, preserving the decision and its reason. Show exact Before and After blocks for changed content and Dependencies; show full content and Dependencies for new Modules. Explain conflicts and recommend a resolution. Continue independent work while approval is pending. Save only after explicit owner approval, then Flash to verify.

These are the complete, unmodified instructions from the canonical Cortex session-start instructions. If the full text does not fit, use a project's instructions and work with Cortex in that project. Do not replace your other instructions. A message in one conversation does not configure future conversations.

For another MCP client, use its persistent or project instructions. For Claude, use Settings → General → Instructions for Claude. Supported coding-agent plugins include the full guidance in their SessionStart hook; approve the hook and start a new session.

Check the connection

Start a new conversation with Socra Cortex enabled. Send:

Use Cortex to list the Modules I can access. Make a real Cortex tool call; an empty list is valid. Separately, report whether this new conversation received persistent Cortex guidance and what it requires. Do not change anything.

Check that ChatGPT calls Cortex and returns the Module list. An empty list is normal for a new Account. An access error or a response without a tool call does not confirm the connection; follow Troubleshoot Cortex.

Check the guidance report separately. If you saved instructions but the new conversation did not receive them, reopen Custom instructions to check the saved text and that customization is enabled. For project instructions, start the conversation inside that project. If you skipped instructions, the connection can still work; report the guidance as skipped.

Add your first knowledge

Ask your agent:

Help me get started with Cortex. Ask me for one piece of knowledge that should guide your future work. Check existing Modules first. Propose the exact Module content and dependencies for my approval before saving anything. After I approve, save it, flash it, and explain how it changes your next decision.

The instructions guide the agent; they do not enforce its behavior. Review its work and choose the host confirmation settings that fit your needs.

For manual connections, use Custom MCP setup. For coding agents, follow Connect a coding agent.