# Ask AI beside a visitor conversation

Ask follow-up questions in a private AI conversation beside the visitor chat.

*Release 3.3 · admin, operator*

**Settings › AI › Features**

## 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](AI-036.md); 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

### This feature uses

- **Requires** [AI accounts and shared defaults](AIP-001.md): Ask AI needs a suitable configured account.
- **Requires** [Current Chat workspace and panels](CON-014.md): The conversation pane contains the Ask AI tab.
- **Configured in** [Roles and permissions](ADM-008.md): Operator roles and Chat permissions control access.
- **Configured in** [AI feature settings and change history](AI-001.md): Ask AI selection uses feature type, visitor filters and priority.
- **Configured in** [AI instructions and templates](AI-002.md): Instructions and prompt sources guide the assistant.
- **Works better with** [AI functions and required inputs](AI-016.md): Configured functions extend what the assistant can do.
- **Works better with** [Reusable AI skills and instructions](AI-020.md): Published skills can provide reusable guidance and tools.
- **Works better with** [Rich content in AI replies](AI-026.md): Supported replies can include rich content.
- **Works better with** [AI answer citations and summaries](AI-028.md): Citations show sources used by the assistant.
- **Works better with** [Ask AI agents in Team Chat](AI-036.md): An Ask AI feature can also be published as a separate Team Chat agent.
- **Works better with** [AI reply streaming settings](AI-037.md): Streaming provides incremental replies and interruption behaviour.
- **Needs licence or module** Admin settings and feature switches (managed by Powerfront): AI must be enabled for the website.

### Used by

- **Required by** [Ask AI agents in Team Chat](AI-036.md): Team Chat agents run configured Ask AI features.
- **Configures** [Persistent AI memory connections](AIP-016.md): Ask AI's Memory and Scope choices select the service and identity, with Auto using operator memory.
- **Configures** [Autopilot connections through A2A](AIP-019.md): When A2A executes Ask AI, that feature's instructions and selected functions determine the work it performs.
- **Configures** [ACP compatibility for AI agents](AIP-020.md): When ACP executes Ask AI, that feature's instructions and selected functions determine the work it performs.
- **Enhances** [AI assistance, translation and sentiment reports](REP-026.md): 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.