> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.genesis.autify.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.genesis.autify.com/ai-assistant/chat.md).
# Chat
This article explains the chat feature of the AI Assistant. Chat is a conversational AI feature that supports QA work, such as answering questions about your workspace, generating specifications, and creating test cases. It supports natural-language conversation while referencing connected resources (codebases and specifications) as context.
## Starting a chat
1. Open the target workspace.
2. Click **Ask Genesis** in the page header.
* On the workflow editor, click **Workflow Builder** instead of **Ask Genesis**.
* On mobile, chat opens as a full-screen overlay.
Ask Genesis side panel
3. Enter your question or instruction in the input field at the bottom of the panel.
4. Press **Enter** or click the send icon.
{% hint style="success" %}
To insert a line break, press **Shift+Enter**.
{% endhint %}
5. The AI generates a response in real time. To stop generation while it is in progress, click the stop icon.
AI response being streamed in the chat
{% hint style="info" %}
If no resources (codebase or specifications) are connected to the workspace, the AI answers using only general knowledge. To get context-aware answers, connect resources in advance.
{% endhint %}
## Using page context
When you open chat from a page in the workspace, Genesis can automatically include the page you are currently viewing as context.
* On pages such as files, workflow templates, workflow runs, and Spaces, a context chip appears above the input field.
* Send your message as-is to let the AI answer with that page in mind.
* Click the **x** on the chip when you want to ask a question without the current page context.
## Referencing files
By referencing files in the chat input field, you can have the AI read specific documents or files in the workspace.
1. Click **Add file** below the input field, or type `@` in the input field. The file picker appears.
2. Search for the file you want to reference by keyword, or pick it from the list.
3. To specify a particular version, type `@` in the input field, open the menu next to the file name, and select the target version.
4. A reference to the selected file is inserted into the input field.
5. Continue entering your message and send it.
{% hint style="success" %}
To reference a file that has not yet been uploaded to the workspace, select **Upload files** from the file picker to upload a new file.
{% endhint %}
File picker in the chat input field
## Using skills
Skills are reusable instruction packs discovered from `SKILL.md` files uploaded to the workspace or included in connected codebases. Insert a skill when you want the AI to follow a specific workflow for your request.
1. Click **Add skill** below the input field, or type `/` at the start of a new token in the input field.
2. Search for the skill you want to use.
3. Select the skill from the list.
4. The skill is inserted into the input field as `/skill-name`.
5. Continue entering your message and send it.
{% hint style="info" %}
If the workspace skill mode is **Automatic**, the AI can also choose relevant skills on its own. Referencing `/skill-name` always applies that skill to your message.
{% endhint %}
## Switching AI models
You can switch between AI models depending on your use case. For the types and characteristics of available models, see [AI models](/ai-feature/ai-models.md).
1. Click the model selector at the lower-left of the input field.
2. Select the AI model you want to use.
Model selector in the chat input field
## Reviewing AI responses
### Text responses
AI responses are rendered as Markdown. Code blocks, lists, tables, headings, and similar elements are displayed appropriately.
### Reasoning blocks
Reasoning models run an internal step-by-step thinking process before generating a response. This thinking process is shown as a collapsed **Reasoning** block.
* Click the **Reasoning** block to expand it and review the details of the AI's thinking process.
* The time spent on reasoning is shown inside the block.
### Tool execution
When the AI uses tools such as codebase exploration, file reading, knowledge base search, or external service integration, the execution status appears as a card.
* The card shows the name of the tool used and its execution status.
* Click a card to expand it and review the input parameters and output details.
* For the types of available tools, see [Tools](/ai-feature/tools.md).
### Context compaction
When a long conversation approaches the context limit, the AI automatically compacts earlier messages. A banner appears where the compaction takes place.
{% hint style="info" %}
After compaction, the details of messages from before the compaction point are no longer referenced by the AI. Re-enter important information as needed.
{% endhint %}
## Managing chat history
{% hint style="info" %}
Chat history is visible only to you. It is not shared with other members of the same workspace.
{% endhint %}
### Starting a new chat
Click **New chat** in the chat panel header to create a new chat.
### Opening past chats
Click **Chat history** in the chat panel header, then select the conversation you want to open.
## Troubleshooting
### Usage limit error
| Error message | Cause | Resolution |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Usage limit reached. Please contact your administrator to increase the limit. | The organization has reached its AI usage limit. | Ask the **organization owner** to raise the usage limit. The raise itself must be requested from the owner or an admin to Autify Support. |
### AI provider not configured
| Error message | Cause | Resolution |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| No AI provider configured. Please set up your API keys in Settings > AI Providers. | An AI provider API key is not configured. | For the cloud edition, contact Autify Support. For the on-premise edition, contact your server administrator. Only the **organization owner** can configure AI providers. |
---
# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.
## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.
Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:
```
GET https://help.genesis.autify.com/ai-assistant/chat.md?ask=&goal=
```
`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.
Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.