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Ask Plexii a question

Type a question for Plexii, follow the answer as it is written, answer its follow-up questions, then copy, insert or regenerate the reply.

All plansUpdated

Ask Plexii anything about your work, or ask it to do something. It searches your workspace, writes the answer while you watch, and shows the sources it used. When it needs a detail from you, it asks, often with options you can click. When the answer is in, you can copy it, put it into a document, or ask again for a fresh one.

Before you start

  • Every plan includes asking Plexii.
  • Plexii needs AI to run. When you are signed in it runs on PlexiDesk credits, or you can use your own Anthropic key in Settings > AI. See AI credits and where your AI runs.
  • Signed out with no key of your own? A note at the top of the conversation asks you to sign in, or to add your own Anthropic key. See Create an account and sign in.

Ask a question

  1. Click the round Plexii button at the bottom right of the screen. To use Plexii as a full page instead, press ⌘ ⇧ K on a Mac or Ctrl Shift K on Windows to open the Plexii hub. See Use the Plexii hub.
  2. Click in the box at the bottom. Its prompt fits the screen you are on, such as Ask about this desk… on a desk or Ask about this document… in a document.
  3. Type your question or request. Press Shift Enter to start a new line.
  4. Press Enter, or click Send (the arrow) at the right of the controls. ⌘ Enter on a Mac or Ctrl Enter on Windows also sends.

Depending on what you type, the box may offer to open a web address, go to a desk or search the web instead of asking. A row of choices above the box shows what Enter will do. In the usual Auto mode, questions and requests go straight to Plexii. See Auto, Search and Ask: choose what Enter does.

Start from a suggestion

A new, empty conversation opens with How can I help you today?, a line about what Plexii can do on this screen, and a few suggestions. On a desk, for example, they include Break this into clear steps and What should I work on next?. Click a suggestion to put its words in the box, finish the sentence if you need to, then press Enter.

What the conversation is about

Just above the box, a small chip names what the conversation is about, such as the desk it started on. Rest the pointer on it to read This conversation is scoped to and the name. When you have pointed Plexii at particular items with @, those items show there instead. See Point Plexii at specific things with @.

While Plexii answers

  1. Your message appears on the right.
  2. A line above the answer shows what Plexii is doing, such as Searching your workspace…, and lists the sources as it finds them. See See what Plexii read: the trace and citations.
  3. The answer appears in short passages as it is written. Longer answers use headings, lists and tables, with small numbers that cite their sources.
  4. If Plexii proposes changes, such as a new table or a draft email, they arrive as cards under the answer. Nothing changes until you apply a card. See Review and apply Plexii's changes.

You can close the panel or move to another screen while Plexii works. The answer is there when you come back.

Stop an answer

While Plexii is writing, the Send button becomes a square. Click it to stop. Its tooltip reads Stop — keeps what has been written so far: the part of the answer already on screen stays in the conversation.

Read back without losing your place

If you scroll up while Plexii is writing, the conversation stays where you are reading. A Jump to latest button appears above the box; click it to go back to the newest message.

Answer Plexii's follow-up questions

When Plexii needs a detail before it can help, it asks. The question appears at the top of the box, with options to choose from.

  1. Click the option that fits.
  2. Click Send. Your choice goes to Plexii as your reply.

If none of the options fits, type your own answer in the box instead. Where Plexii invites it, the question card says Or describe it your own way below. To set the question aside, click the cross at its top right.

Click to reply

Some answers include things you can click instead of typing:

  • Choices. Click one to send it as your reply. When you can pick several, click each one you want, then click Send with the number you picked.
  • A scale. Drag the slider to a value, then click Send.
  • Cards and rows of named items. Click one to ask Plexii to tell you more about it.

Only the newest answer's options can be clicked. Older ones stay visible as a record of what was offered.

Use an answer

Point at an answer when it is finished. Small buttons appear under it:

  • Copy this reply copies the answer's text. A tick confirms it.
  • Insert this into the document puts the answer into the document you have open in PlexiiDocs, where your cursor is. It appears only while a document is open.
  • Ask again — regenerate this reply sends your question again for a fresh answer. The old answer, and anything after it in the conversation, is replaced.

Save part of an answer

  1. Select some text in the conversation.
  2. Right-click the selection.
  3. Choose one of:
    • Add to Attention… opens Attention's capture with the selected text, so you can file it as something to do. See Capture something into Attention.
    • Save selection as sticky puts the text on a sticky note on the desk you are on.
    • Save selection as note puts the text in a note titled From assistant on the desk you are on.
    • Copy copies the text.

The two Save selection options need a desk open. On other screens they are greyed out.

Ask from the command palette

  1. Press ⌘ K on a Mac or Ctrl K on Windows.
  2. Type your question.
  3. Choose Ask Plexii and your words. Its hint reads Plexii answers in the side panel.

The Plexii panel opens and Plexii answers there. See Search and commands (Cmd+K).

Clear the conversation

When a conversation has messages, Clear chat (the sweep icon) shows at the top right of the conversation. Click it to clear the messages from the panel and start from a clean slate. The conversation itself stays in your list. See Find, reopen and manage conversations.

Tips

  • Say what you want back. "Summarise this desk in three bullet points" gets a tighter answer than "what's on this desk?".
  • Point at the exact thing. An @ mention of the right document beats describing it. See Point Plexii at specific things with @.
  • Ask from where the work is. On a desk, Plexii sees that desk first. See What Plexii can read and search.
  • Start a new chat for a new topic. Click New chat (the plus sign), or press ⌘ O on a Mac or Ctrl O on Windows while Plexii is open.
  • Pick the model for the job. See Choose the AI model.

Common questions

I pressed Enter and a web page opened. The box was in Auto and read what you typed as an address or a search. Press Tab to choose Ask Plexii before you press Enter, or switch to Ask. See Auto, Search and Ask: choose what Enter does.

The Send button is greyed out. The box is empty. Type something first.

I can't type while Plexii is answering. The box waits until the answer is finished. Click the square to stop it if you want to ask something else.

Plexii's options no longer do anything when I click them. Only the newest answer's options can be clicked. Type your reply in the box instead.

Plexii didn't use the document I meant. Mention it with @ and ask again. The trace above each answer shows what Plexii read. See See what Plexii read: the trace and citations.

Plexii can't answer at all. See If Plexii can't answer or act.

Still need help? Contact support at [email protected].