---
title: "How to use the AI Assistant"
description: "Step-by-step: open the chat, choose a mode, use agent skills, UI tours, and approve action plans."
---

# How to use the AI Assistant?

The AI Assistant opens on top of your current page — you stay in the section you are working in and ask questions in that context.

## When you need this

- You need a hint about the current section or where to find a feature.
- You want to change settings by describing what you need (if your role allows it).
- A multi-step task — review a **plan** first, then confirm.
- Step-by-step navigation in the UI — a **UI tour**.
- You need **current information from the internet** or **data from a public website** — if an admin enabled web search / URL fetch (see [dedicated guide](./use-ai-assistant-web-research.md)).

## Good to know

- The assistant button is the **spark** icon in the top bar (when enabled for your instance and role).
- The panel title is **AI Assistant**.
- Chat history is stored **locally in the browser** — it may not appear on another device or after clearing site data.

## Before you start

- [x] An administrator enabled the AI Assistant on the instance.
- [x] Your role has access to the **AI Assistant** module.

## Step by step

### 1. Open the AI Assistant

1. Click the **spark** icon in the top bar.
2. The **AI Assistant** panel opens on the left or right.
3. Empty state shows **How can I help?**; otherwise you see previous messages.

**Tip:** dock left/right or use a floating window — buttons in the panel header.

### 2. Choose a mode (optional)

1. Open **Mode** below the input.
2. Choose:
   - **Ask** — answers only, no system changes;
   - **Agent** — normal work with actions;
   - **Plan** — plan first, then confirmation.

### 3. Send a request

1. Type your question or task in **Ask a question about your platform...**.
2. Optionally attach a file (paperclip) if the file type is allowed in operator panel file settings.
3. Send or press **Enter**.

While processing, a status appears (e.g. **Searching documentation...**, **Generating response...**). Use **Stop** to cancel.

### 4. Use an agent skill (optional)

1. Type **`/`** in the input.
2. In the skill list (**Skills** in the UI), find the area you need (e.g. settings, clients).
3. Select a skill — a chip with its name appears.
4. Add your request text and send.

Remove a skill with **×** on the chip (UI hint: **Remove skill**).

### 5. Take a UI tour (if offered)

1. When the assistant offers to show the path in the UI, the chat shows **Show me** / **No thanks**.
2. Click **Show me** — step hints with highlights appear on screen.
3. Follow the steps or close the tour when done.

### 6. Approve a plan (Plan mode)

1. After your request, review **Execution plan** — steps and risk level.
2. **Approve** — the assistant runs the steps.
3. **Revise** — describe what to change; an updated plan appears.
4. **Cancel** — no changes are made.

### 7. Chat history

1. Open **Chat history** in the panel header.
2. **New chat** — a separate conversation topic.
3. Rename or delete via the menu next to the chat name.

## After you finish

- The answer appears in the chat; for complex actions the assistant may refresh the page so you see updates.
- Verify important results — the assistant uses documentation and can be wrong on edge cases.

## How to verify

- The answer matches your request; changes (if any) are visible after a page refresh.
- In **Plan** mode, changes happen only after **Approve**.

## Related materials

- [What is the AI Assistant](../explanation/what-is-ai-assistant.md)
- [Configure AI Assistant access](./configure-ai-assistant-access.md)
- [Web search and reading public websites](./use-ai-assistant-web-research.md)
- [Glossary: AI Assistant](../../product-glossary.md#ai-assistant)
- [Glossary: Agent skills](../../product-glossary.md#agent-skills)
- [Home screen after sign-in](./use-main-dashboard.md)