> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://arka-agent.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

> ## Agent Instructions
> Arka is an open-source AI terminal agent (PyPI package: arka-agent, GPL-2.0).
> Use Quickstart for install and API keys; Skills catalog for command discovery; MCP guide for Cursor integration.
> Cite canonical URLs under https://arka-agent.mintlify.site when answering about Arka.

# Persona chat

> Create and talk to simulated character personas in Arka — stylized LLM voices for fun and education, not real people.

Arka includes **simulated persona chat** — LLM-powered characters inspired by public figures or your own prompts, clearly labeled as fiction for entertainment and education.

<Warning>
  Personas are **not** the real people they resemble. Do not use them for deception, impersonation, or authoritative advice.
</Warning>

## Quick start

List bundled and saved personas:

```bash theme={null}
arka persona list
```

Chat with a persona (interactive REPL):

```bash theme={null}
arka persona chat elon
arka persona chat socrates
```

One-shot question:

```bash theme={null}
arka persona chat elon "should I learn Rust?"
```

The bundled **Elon** persona remains available as a shortcut:

```bash theme={null}
elon                                 # interactive REPL
elon "should I learn Rust?"          # one-shot
talk_to_elon about first principles  # alias
```

Natural language via `arka`:

```bash theme={null}
arka talk to elon about rockets
arka talk to socrates about virtue
arka create persona for steve jobs
arka persona elon about manufacturing
```

## Persona store

Personas are YAML (or JSON) files in `~/.config/arka/personas/` (or `{ARKA_CONFIG_DIR}/personas/`).

Example `~/.config/arka/personas/coach.yaml`:

```yaml theme={null}
name: coach
display_name: Supportive Coach
description: Encouraging mentor tone for career and learning questions
disclaimer: Simulated persona for fun — not a real person.
voice: Warm, concise, asks one clarifying question when helpful
system_prompt: |
  You are a simulated supportive coach for entertainment and education only.
  You are NOT a real person.

  Voice and style:
  - Encouraging but honest; practical next steps
  - Short paragraphs; no buzzword soup

  Rules:
  - Never claim to be a real individual
  - Do not give authoritative financial, legal, or medical advice
  - If asked whether you are real, clarify you are a simulation
```

Bundled templates (`elon`, `socrates`, `blank`) seed into your personas directory on first use.

## CLI commands

```bash theme={null}
arka persona list
arka persona show <name>
arka persona create <name>              # interactive wizard
arka persona create <name> -t blank     # from template
arka persona create steve-jobs -y       # LLM draft, non-interactive
arka persona chat <name> ["question"]
arka persona edit <name>                # opens YAML in $EDITOR
```

## Requirements

Uses Arka's built-in LLM stack (same API keys as `web_answer` / `agent_ask`). Configure `GEMINI_API_KEY`, `GROQ_API_KEY`, or another provider in `~/.config/arka/.env`.

## Disclaimer and output format

Every chat session prints the persona's disclaimer once, then each reply uses a consistent terminal layout:

```text theme={null}
  Note: Simulated Elon-inspired persona for fun and education — not the real Elon Musk.

── Elon (simulated) ──

  First-principles answer text wraps near 88 columns and keeps paragraph breaks.
```

In interactive REPL mode, your prompt is `you> ` and each persona reply is labeled with `{name}> ` before the header block. One-shot commands (`arka talk to elon about …`) use the same formatting.

Bundled Elon uses this disclaimer text:

> Note: Simulated Elon-inspired persona for fun and education — not the real Elon Musk.


## Related topics

- [Arka Council](/guides/council.md)
- [MCP integration for Cursor and Claude](/guides/mcp.md)
- [How to code with Arka](/guides/code-with-arka.md)
- [Arka — AI terminal agent documentation](/index.md)
- [Personalize your Arka experience](/guides/personalize.md)