Ask AI beside a visitor conversation
Ask follow-up questions in a private AI conversation beside the visitor chat.
What it is
Ask AI gives you a private assistant conversation beside the visitor chat. You can ask a question, read the reply and continue with follow-up questions. These questions and replies are separate from messages sent to the visitor.
Who uses it and why
Operators use Ask AI for help while working with a visitor. Administrators configure its instructions, knowledge access and available functions.
Where to find it
Select a visitor and open the Ask AI tab in the conversation pane. Type in Ask AI a question and use the send control.
Configure the Ask AI feature under Settings › AI › Features with the Settings role and AI permission, or the Developer role. Operators with the Chat role need Allow AI Suggestions to use the sidebar.
How it works
INSIDE keeps assistant history for your operator and the selected visitor context. Follow-up questions can use the earlier private exchange. The feature's visitor filters and priority determine which Ask AI configuration is selected.
The assistant uses its instructions and available functions. Depending on configuration, replies can include sources, cards and other rich content. Show AI Thinking State displays short activity labels while it works.
With supported streaming enabled, the response appears progressively. Interrupting a streamed run follows Interrupt Behavior: Persist Partial can save the usable partial reply, while Discard Partial drops the unfinished draft.
Questions and answers do not automatically become visitor messages. Any functions allowed to change data still perform their configured actions.
Configure it
Create an enabled Ask AI feature with a suitable Account. Set Instructions, visitor filters and priority, then select the Functions and Skills the assistant needs. With the Settings or Manager role and the required operator permissions, grant Allow AI Suggestions to operators who should use it.
Enable streaming and choose interruption behaviour if required. Show in Team Chat publishes a separate agent target described in Ask AI agents in Team Chat; it does not replace the visitor sidebar.
Settings
| Setting | Where | Applies to | Default | Who can change it | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instructions | Settings › AI › Features | website | Not set: service guidance applies unless another instruction source is configured | Settings role, Developer role | Guides the assistant's replies. |
| Show AI Thinking State | Settings › AI › Features | website | On | Settings role, Developer role | Shows transient activity labels while Ask AI works. |
| Enable Streaming | Settings › AI › Features | website | Off | Settings role, Developer role | Shows a supported assistant reply as it is generated. |
| Interrupt Behavior | Settings › AI › Features | website | Persist Partial | Settings role, Developer role | Chooses whether interruption saves a cleaned partial reply or discards it. |
Permissions
| Permission | Lets you |
|---|---|
| Allow AI Suggestions | Allows operators with the Chat role to use the private Ask AI conversation. |
| Settings | Configure Ask AI when the AI Settings permission is allowed. |
| AI | Allows AI configuration under Settings Permissions. |
| Developer | Configure Ask AI and access its operator assistance. |
Limits and good to know
- The assistant needs the relevant visitor or conversation context for visitor-specific tools.
- Its available knowledge depends on configured functions and sources.
- Private replies are not automatically sent to the visitor. Review any answer before using it in your reply.
- Refresh reloads the sidebar; do not treat it as a way to erase history.
- Changing the selected visitor changes the private assistant context.
Depends on and works with
+4 more · this feature uses
- Ask AI agents in Team ChatEnhances
An Ask AI feature can also be published as a separate Team Chat agent.
- AI reply streaming settingsEnhances
Streaming provides incremental replies and interruption behaviour.
- AI accounts and shared defaultsRequires
Ask AI needs a suitable configured account.
- Current Chat workspace and panelsRequires
The conversation pane contains the Ask AI tab.
View all connections as a list
This feature uses
- Admin settings and feature switches · managed by PowerfrontLicence
AI must be enabled for the website.
- Roles and permissionsConfigured by
Operator roles and Chat permissions control access.
- AI feature settings and change historyConfigured by
Ask AI selection uses feature type, visitor filters and priority.
- AI instructions and templatesConfigured by
Instructions and prompt sources guide the assistant.
- AI functions and required inputsEnhances
Configured functions extend what the assistant can do.
- Reusable AI skills and instructionsEnhances
Published skills can provide reusable guidance and tools.
- Rich content in AI repliesEnhances
Supported replies can include rich content.
- AI answer citations and summariesEnhances
Citations show sources used by the assistant.
- Ask AI agents in Team ChatEnhances
An Ask AI feature can also be published as a separate Team Chat agent.
- AI reply streaming settingsEnhances
Streaming provides incremental replies and interruption behaviour.
- AI accounts and shared defaultsRequires
Ask AI needs a suitable configured account.
- Current Chat workspace and panelsRequires
The conversation pane contains the Ask AI tab.
Used by
- Ask AI agents in Team ChatRequires
Team Chat agents run configured Ask AI features.
- Persistent AI memory connectionsConfigured by
Ask AI's Memory and Scope choices select the service and identity, with Auto using operator memory.
- Autopilot connections through A2AConfigured by
When A2A executes Ask AI, that feature's instructions and selected functions determine the work it performs.
- ACP compatibility for AI agentsConfigured by
When ACP executes Ask AI, that feature's instructions and selected functions determine the work it performs.
- AI assistance, translation and sentiment reportsEnhances
Ask AI activity contributes assistance usage counts.
FAQ and troubleshooting
Can the visitor see my Ask AI questions?
They are not delivered as visitor chat messages. Review the actions permitted by your configured functions separately.
Why is Ask AI unavailable?
Check Allow AI Suggestions, website AI enablement and whether an enabled Ask AI feature matches the visitor.
Why does the assistant not know the information I need?
Check its Functions, Skills and knowledge sources. Mention the relevant details in your question when they are not available in its context.
Why did an interrupted answer remain in the sidebar?
Persist Partial keeps a usable partial answer. Select Discard Partial in the feature if unfinished streamed drafts should be discarded.