# Cortex Quick Start > Cortex is Trade Echo's AI assistant inside the web dashboard. It can pull live context from OptionFlow, DealerEdge, dark pool, AlgoEdge, news, your portfolio… Source: https://tradeecho.com/docs/features/cortex/quick-start (updated 2026-09-26) Cortex is Trade Echo's AI assistant inside the web dashboard. It can pull live context from OptionFlow, DealerEdge, dark pool, AlgoEdge, news, your portfolio stats, and more - then answer in plain language. Use **presets** to bias which data sources matter, and optional **custom instructions** when you want a consistent style (for example, strict fact vs inference labeling). --- ## What Cortex Does - **Chat**: Ask questions in natural language. Cortex calls platform tools under the hood and returns structured, data-backed answers. - **Presets**: Eighteen built-in modes (see below) limit or prioritize tools so answers stay focused - for example GEX-heavy vs flow-heavy. - **Custom agents**: Build your own agent in the **Agent Builder** - pick a base, teach it, set rails, and publish. See [Agent Builder](https://tradeecho.com/docs/features/cortex/agent-builder). Cortex is a **research and education assistant**. It is not personalized investment advice. Always confirm with your own process, risk rules, and the live tools before trading. --- ## Where to Open Cortex 1. Log in to the Trade Echo **web app**. 2. Open **Cortex** from the main navigation (same area as OptionFlow, DealerEdge, and other tools). 3. Choose a **preset** before or as you chat - the preset controls which tools Cortex prefers. Cortex has more than chat: **Agent Builder**, **Marketplace**, **My Agents**, and **Approvals** live under the same Cortex section. See [Agent Builder](https://tradeecho.com/docs/features/cortex/agent-builder), [Marketplace](https://tradeecho.com/docs/features/cortex/marketplace), and [My Agents and Approvals](https://tradeecho.com/docs/features/cortex/agents). --- ## Built-In Presets These names match the options in the app. | Preset | Focus | Good for | |--------|--------|----------| | **GEX Scout** | Gamma exposure, flip levels, dealer-style positioning (DealerEdge) | Pin risk, magnets, pre-event structure | | **Flow Sniper** | Unusual options flow, sweeps, premium (OptionFlow) | Screening flow, ticker deep dives | | **Dark Pool Radar** | Large off-exchange prints and context | Blocks, size vs session, tape context | | **Catalyst Scout** | Events, earnings, FOMC-style setup | Pre-event picture across signals + news | | **Risk Scout** | SEC filings, financials, fundamental risk | 10-K / 10-Q / 8-K questions, fundamentals | | **My Portfolio** | Your trade journal stats (P&L, win rate, habits) | Review performance, sizing context with your data | | **Market Recap** | Session or week digest across signals | End-of-day or weekly summary | | **Sector Flow** | Broad-market unusual premium and sector-level flow | "Where is premium concentrated today" | | **ATS Tape Trends** | Weekly FINRA ATS volume (delayed 1-2 weeks) vs live dark pool prints | Venue trends, delayed vs live comparison | | **Liquidity Pulse** | Spot tape, algo prints, and options flow together | "What is moving" on a single ticker | | **Index Pulse** | Index snapshots (SPX, NDX, VIX) plus ETF tape and Futures Echo Map | Index levels, VIX checks, futures context | | **Futures Echo** | CME Echo Map session structure with projected dealer walls | ES / NQ session reads, overnight context | | **Chain Scout** | Options chain snapshot with flow and spot | Contract-level structure on a name | | **BT Cloud Scout** | 1-minute BT Cloud direction and crossover events | Fast intraday trend reads | | **Session Structure (VWAP + EMA9/20)** | Session structure scenarios (TAKE / OPTIONAL / NO_TRADE) from VWAP and EMA9/EMA20 | Index 0DTE structure reads, prime session windows | | **Structure Scout** | Near-dated options structure and spot (0-DTE style reads) | Short-dated structure as confirmation | | **Member Support** | Billing, login, promos, and copy trading help (no market-data tools) | Account and product questions | | **Full Scan** | All Cortex tools available | Maximum flexibility, multi-module questions | Default when unsure: **Full Scan**. Use a focused preset when you want Cortex to stay in one lane (for example **Flow Sniper** for flow-only days). --- ## How to Get Better Answers ### 1. Name the ticker and timeframe - Strong: "Unusual call flow on NVDA in the last two hours today." - Weak: "What's happening with tech?" ### 2. Match preset to the question - GEX and dealer positioning → **GEX Scout** - Sweeps and premium → **Flow Sniper** - Dark pool prints → **Dark Pool Radar** - Earnings or calendar → **Catalyst Scout** - Filings and fundamentals → **Risk Scout** - Your own stats → **My Portfolio** - "Everything on one symbol" → **Full Scan** ### 3. Cross-check the live tools Use Cortex to summarize and explore, then confirm levels, flow, and news on the actual OptionFlow, DealerEdge, and NewsEdge pages before placing trades. ### 4. Use custom instructions for discipline Short custom text (when available) works well for rules like: bullets only, label fact vs inference, always give invalidation, or cap how many tickers are discussed. See [Ready-made custom prompts](https://tradeecho.com/docs/features/cortex/ready-made-prompts) for copy-paste examples. --- ## Example Questions **GEX Scout** - Where is the GEX flip on SPY? - Gamma profile for QQQ - Dealer positioning on TSLA **Flow Sniper** - Unusual call flow on NVDA today - High premium sweeps over $500k - Flow into AAPL this week **Dark Pool Radar** - Big dark pool prints on META today - Largest dark pool trades in the last session **Catalyst Scout** - How is NVDA positioned before earnings? - Pre-catalyst read on CRM before Thursday **Risk Scout** - What did NVDA report in their latest 10-K? - Revenue trend for AAPL over the last four quarters **My Portfolio** - How did I do this month? - Which tickers do I trade most? **Market Recap / Full Scan** - Give me today's market recap - Run a full picture on QQQ --- ## Scanner and Alerts (If Enabled) Some accounts can subscribe to **scanner** or **alert** style automations tied to Cortex presets and watchlists. If you use them: - Keep tickers and thresholds realistic to avoid noise. - Alerts are starting points - still verify in the dashboard before acting. Details may vary by release; use in-app help or Discord if a control is not visible on your account. --- ## Common Questions **Does Cortex place trades for me?** Chat does not. Custom **agents** trade a simulated **paper book by default**. | Path | Lifetime | Monthly / yearly | |------|----------|------------------| | **Marketplace follow (live)** | Unlimited live follows (broker required) | **1 live** slot at a time, shared with your own live agent. Trades on your active Copy Trading account. | | **Agent you built (live)** | Unlimited, enabled in Builder when eligible (broker, rails, confirmation). Pick a broker per agent. | Enabled in Builder when eligible, using the same **1 live** slot. Trades on your active Copy Trading account. | | **Paper agents and follows** | Never use a live slot | Never use a live slot | See [Agent Builder](https://tradeecho.com/docs/features/cortex/agent-builder) and [Marketplace](https://tradeecho.com/docs/features/cortex/marketplace). **Why did Cortex refuse or give a short answer?** It may lack tool data for that ticker or time, or your message may hit safety or subscription limits. Narrow the question or try **Full Scan**. **What is the custom instructions field for?** It adds a behavior layer on top of a preset (tone, format, risk reminders) - up to 2,000 characters in the Agent Builder. It cannot replace the preset's tool focus by itself. --- ## Next Steps - [Agent Builder](https://tradeecho.com/docs/features/cortex/agent-builder) - Pick a base, teach it, set rails, publish - [Marketplace](https://tradeecho.com/docs/features/cortex/marketplace) - Browse listings, subscribe paper or live - [My Agents and Approvals](https://tradeecho.com/docs/features/cortex/agents) - Paper book, performance, review queue - [Ready-made custom prompts](https://tradeecho.com/docs/features/cortex/ready-made-prompts) - Copy-paste instruction blocks for Step 2 - [OptionFlow AI Flow Assistant](https://tradeecho.com/docs/features/optionflow/ai-flow-assistant) - Natural language flow inside OptionFlow - [Daily Trading System](https://tradeecho.com/docs/getting-started/daily-trading-system) - How tools fit a daily routine