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Merlin is Encord’s agentic layer. Use natural language in Encord or a connected AI tool to work with your Projects, Ontologies, data, Workflows, and analytics.
Merlin is currently in BETA. Merlin does not support every action available in the Encord app or SDK.

Use Merlin in Encord

When Merlin is enabled for your organization, start a conversation from any of the following:
  • The Merlin box on the home page.
  • Merlin in the navigation sidebar.
  • Global search, by selecting Ask Merlin.
Type @ in the chat to mention a Project, Ontology, Dataset, or folder. When Merlin asks for approval before taking an action, select Confirm or Deny.
The Merlin navigation item is visible only when Merlin is enabled for your organization.

Prerequisites

  • An Encord account (cloud). Merlin uses OAuth via WorkOS and is not available on on-premises or air-gapped deployments.
  • To use Merlin outside Encord, a supported MCP client (see Connect your AI tools below).

Connect your AI tools

MCP access is being rolled out. Contact Encord support or your Encord representative to have it enabled for your organization.
Choose your region’s endpoint. Merlin is available in two regions. Use the URL that matches where your Encord organization’s data is hosted:
  • EU: https://mcp.encord.com/mcp
  • US: https://mcp.us.encord.com/mcp
Run the following command in your terminal:
The first time you call a Merlin tool, Claude Code opens a browser to sign in with your Encord account.

Authentication

Merlin authenticates using OAuth. When your AI tools first call a Merlin tool, they open a browser window and prompt you to sign in with your Encord credentials. The session is managed by WorkOS. Merlin itself never stores your credentials. MCP authorizations last for up to 14 days. After an authorization expires, your AI tool prompts you to authorize access again.
You must sign in as an Encord user whose account was created (or backfilled) after Merlin launched. If your sign-in succeeds but tool calls are rejected, contact your workspace admin.
If you belong to any Workspace that requires MFA, sign in to Encord and complete MFA in the same browser session before authorizing Merlin. This requirement applies even when you use Merlin with another Workspace that does not require MFA.

Merlin with Workspaces

If you belong to only one Encord Workspace, Merlin automatically uses that Workspace. No additional setup is required. If you belong to multiple Workspaces, Merlin needs to know which Workspace you want to work in before it can perform actions for you. The first time you use Merlin, your AI tools may ask you to choose which Workspace to work in. Your AI tool then works within that Workspace for the rest of the conversation, until you ask it to switch. To switch Workspaces later, simply tell your AI tools which Workspace you would like to use. Merlin lists your available Workspaces and confirms your selection, and your AI tool works within that Workspace from then on. Example: “Show me my available Workspaces.” “Switch my active Workspace to Data Operations.”