# Ask AI agents in Team Chat

Use an Ask AI agent in a private Team Chat conversation without selecting a visitor.

*Release 3.3 · admin, operator*

**Settings › AI › Features**

## What it is

A **Team Chat agent** is an Ask AI assistant you can message privately in **Team Chat**. You do not need to select a visitor. Each operator has a separate conversation with the agent.

## Who uses it and why

- Operators ask questions and work with an internal assistant without opening a customer conversation.
- Administrators choose which Ask AI features appear and which operators can use them.

## Where to find it

Open **Team Chat** and choose an available **AI agent**. Administrators configure the feature under **Settings › AI › Features**, in **Team Chat agent**.

## How it works

1. Select the agent and send your message. Supported attachments can accompany it.
2. The agent uses your private conversation and its configured instructions and tools to respond.
3. If streaming is enabled, the reply can appear progressively. Activity labels can show while the agent works.
4. Use the stop control to interrupt a running reply. Sending another message also cancels the active run before processing the new request.
5. Use **Reset session** when you want to clear the private conversation and start a new AI session. Confirm the reset when prompted.

Messages are delivered privately to you rather than to a visitor. The agent has no selected visitor context, so tools that need a visitor cannot obtain that context simply because a customer is selected elsewhere in the console.

## Configure it

With the **Settings** role and the **AI** permission, or the **Developer** role, open an **Ask AI** feature. Turn on **Show in Team Chat** and optionally set **Team Chat agent name**. Leave the name blank to use the feature name.

Use **Operator access** to restrict eligible operators. Ordinary operators need Chat access and **Allow AI Suggestions**. **Developer** access bypasses the ordinary operator filter. **Show AI Thinking State** starts on and controls activity labels, not disclosure of internal reasoning.

The feature must be active and enabled, with a configured account and model. Ask Powerfront to enable AI for the website if needed.

### Settings

| Setting | Where | Applies to | Default | Who can change it | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Show in Team Chat | Settings › AI › Features | website | Off | Settings role, Developer role | Makes an enabled Ask AI feature available as a private Team Chat agent to eligible operators. |
| Operator access | Settings › AI › Features | website | Not set; all eligible operators | Settings role, Developer role | Restricts which otherwise permitted operators can use the agent; Developer access bypasses this filter. |
| Show AI Thinking State | Settings › AI › Features | website | On | Settings role, Developer role | Shows brief activity labels while the agent works. |

### Fields

| Field | Where | Required | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team Chat agent name | Settings › AI › Features | No | Sets the name operators see; blank uses the feature name, with a maximum of 250 characters in the editor. |

### Permissions

| Permission | Lets you |
|---|---|
| Allow AI Suggestions | Allows an operator with Chat access to use eligible Team Chat agents when AI is enabled for the website. |
| Developer | Configure AI features and use Team Chat agents without the ordinary operator access filter. |
| Settings | Configure Team Chat agents when AI is allowed under Settings Permissions. |
| AI | Allows AI configuration within Settings Permissions. |

## Limits and good to know

- The private thread stays associated with the same agent across saved feature versions.
- **Reset session** permanently clears that private conversation. It does not reset other operators' conversations.
- A message accepts up to ten distinct attachments uploaded by you for Team Chat on the same website. Visitor-owned files are not accepted as Team Chat uploads.
- Image and document ingestion depends on the selected model and provider. An unsupported attachment remains visible in Team Chat with an error explaining that the AI could not ingest it.
- This assistant does not automatically gain access to visitor conversation history.

## Depends on and works with

### This feature uses

- **Requires** [Ask AI beside a visitor conversation](AI-008.md): Team Chat agents run configured Ask AI features.
- **Requires** [Team chat](CHAT-027.md): Team Chat provides the agent list, private conversation and message controls.
- **Configured in** [Roles and permissions](ADM-008.md): Chat access and AI permissions determine operator eligibility.
- **Configured in** [AI feature settings and change history](AI-001.md): The Ask AI feature must be active, enabled and configured with an account and model.
- **Works better with** [AI functions and required inputs](AI-016.md): The agent can use approved functions that do not require unavailable visitor context.
- **Works better with** [AI reply streaming settings](AI-037.md): Streaming can display the reply while it is generated.
- **Works better with** [Images and attachments for AI agents](AI-039.md): Supported attachments can provide image and document context.
- **Needs licence or module** Admin settings and feature switches (managed by Powerfront): Powerfront must enable AI for the website.

### Used by

- **Required by** [AI customer and order search](COM-011.md): Search runs through an authorised AI feature in operator Team Chat.
- **Enhances** [Team chat](CHAT-027.md): Available AI agents add private conversations, streamed replies, stop and session reset controls.
- **Enhances** [Ask AI beside a visitor conversation](AI-008.md): An Ask AI feature can also be published as a separate Team Chat agent.

## FAQ and troubleshooting

### Why can another operator see an agent that I cannot?

Check **Allow AI Suggestions**, Chat access and the agent's **Operator access** rules. Also check that the feature is active and enabled.

### Why does the agent not know which visitor I selected?

Team Chat agents run without a selected visitor. Ask questions that fit the agent's available context and approved tools.

### Does Reset session clear everyone's chat?

No. It clears your private conversation with that agent and starts your new session.

### Why did the attachment stay in chat but produce an error?

The configured model or provider may not support that attachment type. Ask someone with the **Settings** role and the **AI** permission, or the **Developer** role, to review the account and model selected for the feature. Powerfront can change the account configuration for you.