Open or start a chat.
Last updated on
Jul 20, 2026
Use collections, AI knowledge, web information, or local files to provide context for an AI Assistant conversation.
The source you select determines where the AI Assistant looks for information when answering your prompt. You can use one or more collections, the model’s AI knowledge, or publicly available web information. You can also add files from your computer directly to the chat.
Only one source type can be active at a time, but you can switch sources without starting another conversation.
Use collections
Use Collections to ask questions about content curated in Knowledge Base.
Open the source selector in the prompt composer.
Select Collections.
Select one or more collections.
Enter and submit your prompt.
The AI Assistant uses the selected collections as sources for the response.
Change the selected collections
You can add or remove collections while the conversation continues.
Confirm that Collections is the active source
Select or clear collections in the collections list.
Enter and submit the next prompt.
The updated collection selection applies to future responses. Removing a collection does not remove earlier prompts, responses, or citations from the saved chat.
When a collection or file is deleted or you lose access to it, the AI Assistant no longer considers it for future responses.
Use AI knowledge
Use AI Knowledge when you want the AI Assistant to answer from the model’s built-in knowledge rather than collection or web content.
Open the source selector.
Select AI Knowledge.
Enter and submit your prompt.
You do not need to select a collection or add a file before using AI knowledge.
Use the web
Use Web to research publicly available information online.
Open the source selector.
Select Web.
Choose a search mode:
- Fast prioritizes response speed. Use it for straightforward questions, recent information, and quick factual lookups.
- Standard prioritizes deeper research and analysis. Use it for complex questions, comparisons, technical research, and topics that benefit from reviewing multiple sources.
Enter a question, search request, or webpage URL.
Submit the prompt.
You do not need to provide a URL. When you enter a question without one, the AI Assistant searches the web for relevant information.
When you paste a URL, the AI Assistant can use that webpage as a targeted source.
Both modes search current web content. Standard may take longer because it performs more extensive analysis before generating the response.
Web responses include citations that open the cited webpages.
Add files from your computer
Add files directly when you want to use content that is not already available in a collection.
Select the plus control in the prompt composer.
Choose the files from your computer.
Enter and submit your prompt.
Files added from your computer belong only to the chat where you added them. They do not transfer when you start another chat.
You cannot remove an added file from the active chat.
For supported file types and upload limits, see the system requirements page.
Switch sources during a chat
You can switch among Collections, AI Knowledge, and Web at any point in a conversation.
Open the source selector.
Select the source type for the next prompt.
Configure the selected source as needed.
Enter and submit the prompt.
Only the selected source type is active for the current prompt. The chat retains the earlier conversation context, including prompts and responses generated with another source.
For example, you can begin with collection content, switch to the web for current information, and then use AI knowledge for a general follow-up question without starting another chat.
Things to know
- Only one source type can be active at a time.
- You can select multiple collections when Collections is active.
- Switching sources does not create a new chat.
- The conversation retains context from prompts that used earlier sources.
- Changes to selected collections apply to future responses.
- Earlier responses remain in the chat when a source is removed or becomes unavailable.
- Files added from your computer remain associated with the chat where you added them and do not transfer to another chat.
- The selected Fast or Standard web mode remains active until you change it.
