You can connect an external AI assistant such as Claude or Codex to Brian. Then simply ask it, in your own words, to read your courses or create content. For example:
- "Create a course unit on state machines based on the PDF in this course, with a short quiz."
What can the AI assistant do, and what can't it do?
The assistant works on your behalf and only in courses you can already edit in Brian.
The assistant can:
- read your courses, course units, and activities, including drafts and uploaded files
- create course units, quizzes, info pages, AI Dialogues, and chatbots
- add and rewrite quiz questions
- rename activities and revise their texts and instructions
The assistant can never:
- delete anything
- publish activities
- upload files
- see information about your students
Important: New activities stay hidden from students until you publish them. Changes to activities that are already published, however, are visible to students right away.
Requirements
- You have a teacher or admin account at your institution.
- The connector is enabled for your institution. It is turned off by default. If you'd like to use it, contact support@brian.study.
- You are signed in to Brian in your browser before you start the connection. For Claude on the web, this is the browser you use Claude in. For desktop apps, it's usually your default browser.
Connecting Claude (web and desktop)
- In Claude, go to Customize → Connectors.
- Click + Add, then Add custom connector.
- Under Name, enter "Brian", for example. Under MCP server URL, paste this address and click Next:
<https://app.brian.study/mcp>- Claude fills in the next step on its own. Just click Add.
- Click Connect. A permission page from Brian opens. Click Continue connection there.
- Check that the Signed in as line shows your account. Then click Allow once and wait a few seconds until you're back in Claude.
Done. A newly added connector is turned on automatically in your chats. You can check this in the message box under + → Connectors.
Good to know: By default, Claude asks for your permission before every action in Brian. You can change this in the connector's settings. It's normal for Claude to list some functions as "Write/delete tools." The assistant still can't delete anything in Brian.
Other assistants (e.g., Claude Code or Codex)
Use the same address, https://app.brian.study/mcp, and follow your AI assistant's instructions for adding an MCP connector. The same Brian permission page opens when you connect.
Claude Code:
claude mcp add --transport http brian <https://app.brian.study/mcp>Then type /mcp in Claude Code and select brian.
Codex:
codex mcp add brian --url <https://app.brian.study/mcp>
codex mcp login brianWhat can I try first?
- "Show my courses."
- "Open course 1234." You'll find the course number in your course's address in Brian (…/courses/1234/content).
How do I disconnect?
In Brian, go to Account Settings → Connected assistants and click Disconnect.
After 90 days without use, you'll automatically be asked to reconnect.
Troubleshooting
"Not available for this school yet" The connector hasn't been enabled for your institution yet. Check that you're signed in with the right account. Contact support@brian.study.
"Not available for your account" Only teachers and admins can connect.
"This request has expired" or "This request is not valid" Start the connection again from the assistant. You have 15 minutes each time. Click Allow only once.
A course is missing or unavailable Give the assistant the course number. If it still doesn't work, you probably don't have editing rights for this course. Templates from the Library are never available.
The assistant can't read a file (yet) Large documents are processed the first time they're opened, which can take a few minutes. Ask the assistant to try again shortly.
Still not working? Contact support@brian.study.