What Are the New Hermes Agent Updates?
Hermes Agent updates are the latest version 0.17 of the Hermes AI tool. They turn one AI into a team of workers that can split tasks, check each other's work, and run at the same time. This update makes your AI faster and more capable without extra effort from you.
The biggest new feature is async sub-agents. Instead of doing one job at a time, Hermes now splits a single job into multiple tasks and assigns each to a sub-agent. All sub-agents work in parallel. This means you can give a complex goal and get multiple outputs at once.
Other major additions include iMessage support, image editing, automation blueprints, agent profiles, loop engineering, and blank slate setup mode. Each feature is designed to make AI automation more powerful and easier to control.
Main Features in the Hermes 0.17 Update
- Async Sub-Agents: Your AI creates a team of workers to handle research, writing, and video creation simultaneously.
- iMessage Support: Send and receive text messages with your AI agent on your iPhone.
- Image-to-Image Editing: Edit existing images by adding text, fixing colors, or changing elements.
- Automation Blueprints: Pre-built recipes for tasks like a weekly news digest – no coding needed.
- Agent Profiles: Create different AI workers with specific roles such as content judge, video director, or editor.
- Loop Engineering: Set a builder agent and a judge agent; they loop until the output reaches your quality score.
- Blank Slate Setup: Start with most tools turned off, then turn on only what you need. Updates won't add extra bloat.
- New Model Support: Use models like Grok Composer through your X account.
- Other Updates: Skill browser makeover, Raft connections, upgraded memory, WhatsApp support, better Telegram text.
How to Update to the Latest Hermes Agent
Updating to the new Hermes Agent version is quick. Follow these steps:
- Go to your Hermes dashboard.
- Click on the Manage option.
- Scroll down until you see the update button.
- Click Update Hermes to install version 0.17.
- Alternatively, open your terminal and type Hermes update to trigger the update from the command line.
- Once the update is done, you can start using all the new features immediately.
Using the New Hermes Agent Features Step by Step
Here are real examples from the episode. First, async sub-agents: Tell Hermes you want to research automation tips, write a blog post about a community, and make a video. Hermes spins up a team – one agent researches, one writes, one makes the video – all at the same time. You get three outputs in the time it used to take for one.
Second, loop engineering for quality control. Set a builder agent to write a blog post. Set a judge agent to score the post. The judge gives a score out of 100. In the example, the first draft scored 54. The builder revised and got 71, then 83, then 92. Once the score passes your target, the loop stops. You don't need to check anything yourself.
Third, image editing: Upload an image and tell Hermes to fix the colors and add text. It edits the image directly. No need for a separate tool.
Fourth, automation blueprints: Copy a blueprint for an AI news digest. Paste it into Hermes. Set it to run every seven days. Each week fresh content appears automatically.
Fifth, agent profiles: Create a content judge, a video director, and an editor. Switch between them with one click. The judge evaluates content, the director suggests ideas, and the editor polishes.
Results and Tests from the Hermes Update
The episode showed concrete results from loop engineering. A blog post started with a quality score of 54. After the builder agent revised, the score rose to 71, then to 83, and finally to 92. This shows the AI team can significantly improve output without human intervention.
Another test: blank slate setup mode keeps the agent fast. With 12 big tools turned off by default, the agent starts lean. Even after updates, your agent stays exactly as you set it, avoiding bloat.
The episode also highlighted that the automation blueprints work without any coding. You can set up a weekly news digest in minutes, and it runs reliably each week.
Tips, Limits, and Mistakes to Avoid
The biggest tip is to use blank slate setup mode. If you don't, your agent loads every tool and skill, making it slow and bloated. With blank slate, you turn on only what you need. Your agent stays fast and focused.
For loop engineering, set a clear target score. The agents will keep looping until they hit it. But be careful: if you set the bar too high, the loop may run many times. Start with a reasonable target like 85.
Another mistake is ignoring agent profiles. Without profiles, all tasks are handled by one agent. Profiles let you specialize each agent's role, improving quality. Create separate profiles for judging, writing, and editing.
Finally, the episode mentioned that many people won't even use half the new features. The key is to learn them all now so you stay ahead. Focus on the features that match your most frequent tasks.
Who Should Use These Hermes Agent Updates?
These updates are for anyone who uses AI to create content, run a business, or automate repetitive tasks. If you have a community you want to serve with regular posts, videos, or newsletters, the new Hermes tools can handle it all without your constant input.
The updates matter because they turn a single AI into a full team. You no longer need to micromanage each step. The AI splits the work, checks its own quality, and improves until it meets your standards. This saves hours every week and lets you focus on bigger decisions.
Even if you are new to AI, the automation blueprints and blank slate mode make it easy to get started without technical skills. The episode showed that with a few clicks, you can set up a weekly news digest or a content pipeline that runs on autopilot.
