# AI product suggestion settings

Suggest products using the customer's recent conversation, including follow-up changes such as size or colour.

*Release 3.3 · admin, operator, visitor*

**Settings › AI › Features** · **Settings › AI › Functions**

## What it is

**Product Suggestion** uses the recent conversation to find relevant products. It can combine an earlier request with later changes, such as "in blue" or "XL", so you do not need to repeat the full request.

## Who uses it and why

- Operators request suggestions while helping a customer choose products.
- Users with **Settings** and permission to manage **AI**, or **Developer**, configure the AI instructions and product search functions.
- Visitors describe what they want and refine the request as the conversation continues.

## Where to find it

Use **Suggest Products** in the conversation's AI controls or product panel.

Configure a **Product Suggestion** feature at **Settings › AI › Features**. Configure its search operations at **Settings › AI › Functions**.

## How it works

1. The customer describes a product need. A greeting alone does not provide enough context.
2. Use **Suggest Products**, or receive suggestions automatically when the feature is eligible.
3. The built-in search uses up to 20 earlier eligible visitor and operator messages plus the latest visitor message.
4. If the customer changes an attribute, the AI combines that change with the earlier product request. New values replace superseded values.
5. Review the returned groups in the product panel and use the appropriate product-sharing controls.

Updated groups can replace earlier suggestions that no longer match the refined request. A short follow-up such as "XL" can be enough when the earlier conversation supplies the product need.

If **Show Thinking?** is on, operators receive a short explanation for the group. Visitors do not receive that explanation.

## Configure it

Use **Settings** with permission to manage **AI**, or **Developer**.

1. Create or edit a feature with **Type** set to **Product Suggestion**.
2. Choose an **Account**, enable the feature and select the product search **Functions**.
3. Write the **Product Suggestion Prompt** for your catalogue and selling approach.
4. Set the feature's filters and priority to cover the intended conversations.
5. Optionally enable **Show Thinking?**, then save.

AI must be enabled for your website and allowed on the channel. Ask Powerfront to enable website AI if it is not available.

### Settings

| Setting | Where | Applies to | Default | Who can change it | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Show Thinking? | Settings › AI › Features | website | Off | Settings role, Developer role | Shows a short explanation for each recommendation group to operators only. |
| Functions | Settings › AI › Features | website | Not set: no product search operations are assigned | Settings role, Developer role | Selects the product search operations available to this feature. |
| Product Suggestion Prompt | Settings › AI › Features | website | Not set: uses account instructions, or built-in product-search instructions when no account instructions are supplied | Settings role, Developer role | Supplies instructions for finding products using the recent conversation and subsequent refinements. |

### Permissions

| Permission | Lets you |
|---|---|
| Chat | Request product suggestions for an eligible conversation. |
| Settings | Configure Product Suggestion when AI is allowed under Settings Permissions. |
| AI | Allows AI configuration within Settings Permissions. |
| Developer | Configure the feature and its search functions. |

## Limits and good to know

- Product suggestions are independent of Copilot. Muting Copilot does not by itself disable them, and **Allow AI Suggestions** is not their permission gate.
- Manual requests require the **Chat** role and an eligible feature.
- Silent messages, messages excluded from AI and data-field replies do not trigger a new search. A workflow handover message also prevents a search at that point.
- Workflow bot conversations do not run this recommendation process.
- Product search receives the relevant subsite, language and visitor or operator context. Results depend on the configured search tools.
- Empty or failed searches finish the loading state and may show no suggestions.
- Closing the conversation clears its displayed AI product suggestions.
- A custom integration can replace the built-in recommendation behaviour.

## Depends on and works with

### This feature uses

- **Requires** [AI accounts and shared defaults](AIP-001.md): Product Suggestion needs a configured AI account.
- **Configured in** [Roles and permissions](ADM-008.md): Chat and configuration roles control the available actions.
- **Configured in** [AI feature settings and change history](AI-001.md): Feature enablement, account, filters and priority determine which configuration applies.
- **Configured in** [AI functions and required inputs](AI-016.md): The built-in suggestion process uses the search functions configured and assigned to the feature.
- **Configured in** [Product search and filters](COM-007.md): Commerce search settings control the catalogue searches used by assigned Commerce functions.
- **Configured in** [Product card configuration and shopping actions](COM-014.md): Product Card configurations control how suggested products appear when shared.
- **Works better with** [Product options and variant selection](COM-008.md): Catalogue facts provide product attributes, variants and availability.
- **Works better with** [Product recommendations and purchase tracking](COM-017.md): Recommendations can carry commerce information and purchase linkage.
- **Works better with** [Custom scripts managed by Powerfront](EXT-015.md): A Powerfront-arranged website script can replace the built-in product-suggestion process.
- **Related** [Store product selection for chat](COM-009.md): Operators review and share suggested products through the product panel.
- **Needs licence or module** Admin settings and feature switches (managed by Powerfront): Powerfront must enable AI for the website.

### Used by

- **Configures** [Product recommendations and purchase tracking](COM-017.md): Product Suggestion settings choose the AI instructions, search functions and eligible conversations.
- **Enhances** [Product cards in visitor chat](VX-019.md): AI recommendations can provide product cards.
- **Enhances** [Product recommendation and purchase reports](REP-009.md): Products sent into chat from AI recommendations can be filtered and counted separately.

## FAQ and troubleshooting

### Why is Suggest Products missing?

Check that AI is allowed for the website and channel, that a matching **Product Suggestion** feature exists, and that the conversation contains a product request. A greeting-only conversation does not qualify.

### Can I use suggestions with Copilot off?

Yes. Product suggestions have separate eligibility and require **Chat**, rather than the Copilot suggestions permission.

### Why did a new size replace the previous group?

The latest size refines the earlier request. INSIDE replaces superseded suggestions rather than keeping conflicting searches together.

### Why are there no products?

The search may have found no matches, the product need may be unclear, or the configured search function may have failed. Check the catalogue search and the feature's **Functions**.