# Knowledge sources behind AI citations

Name the information behind AI answers and inspect the supporting content attached to citations.

*Release 3.3 · admin, operator, supervisor*

**Settings › AI › Knowledge Sources** · **Settings › AI › Functions**

## What it is

**Knowledge Sources** give recognisable names to information used by AI functions. An answer can show those source names and citations containing supporting content. This helps you review an AI suggestion before using it and investigate where an answer came from.

## Who uses it and why

Administrators name sources and assign them to functions. Operators check supporting material in AI answers and Copilot suggestions. Supervisors use the available citations when reviewing answer quality.

## Where to find it

Create and edit sources in **Settings › AI › Knowledge Sources**. Assign one through **Knowledge Source** in **Settings › AI › Functions**.

The **Settings** role with **AI** permission, or the **Developer** role, grants configuration access. Source names and available citation details appear alongside supported AI answers and suggestions in the conversation interface.

## How it works

1. A configured AI function returns information, such as search matches or a tool result.
2. When the AI cites a returned item, INSIDE attaches supporting content to the answer and removes the citation tracking markers from its visible text.
3. INSIDE uses the assigned knowledge-source name. If it cannot resolve that name, it uses the function name, then **Unknown** if neither is available.
4. The operator interface groups source badges by name and distinguishes sources used in citations from other named sources.

Open the source details available beside the answer to inspect the evidence. Depending on the result, the detail can contain text, a title, category or a link supplied by the source. Citation summaries can refresh after the answer first appears.

## Configure it

In **Settings › AI › Knowledge Sources**, create a source with a clear **Name** and optional **Description**, then save it. Edit the relevant AI function and select that record under **Knowledge Source**.

Configure the function's search separately. Ask Powerfront to configure any tool connection. Creating a source record only names the information; it does not retrieve it. Configure answer citations and any citation summaries on the AI feature that uses the function.

### Settings

| Setting | Where | Applies to | Default | Who can change it | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knowledge Source | Settings › AI › Functions | website | None | Settings role, Developer role | Associates a function's returned information with a named source for AI answers. |

### Fields

| Field | Where | Required | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Settings › AI › Knowledge Sources | Yes | Gives the source the name displayed with AI answers. |
| Description | Settings › AI › Knowledge Sources | No | Describes the source for people managing AI configuration. |

### Permissions

| Permission | Lets you |
|---|---|
| AI | With the Settings role, allows management of Knowledge Sources and function assignments. |
| Developer | Allows management of Knowledge Sources and function assignments. |

## Limits and good to know

- A source name alone does not prove that a particular passage supports the answer. Inspect its available citation content.
- Several cited items may share one source name. Repeated references to the same item are combined.
- Evidence reflects the returned content captured for the answer. It is not a guarantee that the external article still has the same text.
- Missing source names do not stop an otherwise successful AI answer.
- A citation helps you review an answer; it does not replace checking that the answer follows the evidence.

## Depends on and works with

### This feature uses

- **Configured in** [AI functions and required inputs](AI-016.md): Knowledge Source on an AI function assigns the named source to information that function returns.
- **Configured in** [AI result processor templates](AI-040.md): A function's selected Result Processor can reshape the supporting content shown with citations.
- **Works better with** [AI answer citations and summaries](AI-028.md): Named sources support answer citations and citation summaries.
- **Works better with** [Knowledge Base connections for AI](AIP-009.md): Knowledge-base searches can provide evidence from retrieved articles.
- **Works better with** [Algolia Search for AI knowledge](AIP-010.md): Algolia searches can supply cited knowledge records.
- **Works better with** [MCP tool connections for AI](AIP-017.md): MCP tool results can provide citation evidence.

### Used by

- **Configures** [AI knowledge and web search](AI-017.md): Knowledge Source records name retrieved information for citation display.
- **Configures** [AI answer citations and summaries](AI-028.md): Knowledge Source records supply the names shown with answer citations.
- **Configures** [Knowledge Base connections for AI](AIP-009.md): The function's selected Knowledge Source record supplies the name associated with its retrieved information.
- **Configures** [Algolia Search for AI knowledge](AIP-010.md): The function's selected Knowledge Source record supplies the name associated with Algolia results.
- **Configures** [MCP tool connections for AI](AIP-017.md): Knowledge Source on the MCP function supplies a recognisable source name for returned evidence.

## FAQ and troubleshooting

### Why does the source show a function name?

The function has no usable assigned knowledge-source name. Check **Knowledge Source** on the function and **Name** on the source record.

### Why does the answer show Unknown?

INSIDE could not resolve either a knowledge-source name or a function name for that evidence. Ask someone with the **Settings** role and **AI** permission, or the **Developer** role, to check the function and source assignment.

### Why is there a source name without a supporting excerpt?

The answer can include a named source without citing a specific returned item. Available citation detail depends on what the function returned and what the AI cited.

### Why are citation details still changing?

An optional citation summary may finish after the answer. The interface refreshes pending summaries, so allow it to complete before reviewing the final evidence.

### Does deleting a source remove earlier answers?

Do not use source deletion to remove answer history. The answer can contain copied evidence. Ask Powerfront about removal of retained answer content if that is required.