
Use **AI Help Assistant** when you want a fast answer before opening more docs or support guidance yourself.

It is designed to answer product questions using the existing Zira docs, then show the most relevant docs below the answer.

## Open AI Help Assistant

1. Open **Help**.
2. Find the **AI Help Assistant** card near the top of the page.
3. Ask your question in plain language.

![Help page showing the AI Help Assistant card near the top.](/docs/ai/ai-help-assistant/01-help-page-entry.png)

## Ask natural product questions

You can ask things like:

- how to create an API key
- where to manage routing
- how to build a data source
- what changed recently in chat
- where to find a dashboard workflow

This is a good first stop when you know what you want to achieve, but you are not sure which guide to open yet.

## Use it for support-style questions

AI Help Assistant is also useful when the question feels more like support than navigation.

For example, it can help when you want to understand:

- which page to use for a workflow
- how one feature differs from another
- which setup step usually comes first
- which doc to open next

## Wait for the answer

After you ask the question, the assistant shows a loading state while it prepares the answer.

![AI Help Assistant showing a question in progress.](/docs/ai/ai-help-assistant/02-answer-loading.png)

## Use the docs below the answer

When the answer is ready, you will see the response in the assistant panel and the most relevant docs as chips underneath it.

![AI Help Assistant showing a steps-based answer with doc chips underneath.](/docs/ai/ai-help-assistant/03-answer-with-docs.png)

Use those docs when you want to:

- open the main guide for the workflow
- confirm the exact steps in more detail
- continue reading after the quick answer

## Ask better questions for better answers

The assistant works best when you describe:

- the feature you are working with
- the outcome you want
- any important limitation or condition

For example, ask:

- how to create a custom quality data source with calculated fields
- how to update routing rules for pallet inspection
- how to build a dashboard from available production data

## Read next

- [Support](/docs/support/channel-support) - Review or create support requests.
- [App Bar and Sidebar](/docs/navigation/app-bar-and-sidebar) - Move through the app and open the Help page quickly.


Ask product questions in plain language and get step-by-step answers based on Zira docs.

AI Help Assistant


Use the sidebar and top app bar to move around Zira without losing your place.

These areas stay available while you work, so you can switch sections, search for the item you need, and open account actions quickly.

## Use the left sidebar to move between main sections

The left side of the app is the main navigation area.

From here, you can move between large sections such as:

- sites
- channels
- vision devices
- the AI Assistant
- notifications
- help

![Sidebar open on the Sites section with the current site list visible.](/docs/navigation/app-bar-and-sidebar/01-sites-sidebar.png)

Click one of the icons in the left rail to open that section. When the section opens, the matching list appears beside it so you can choose the exact item you want.

## Open the AI Assistant from the sidebar

If your [Work mode](/docs/getting-started/profile-preferences/home-page) is the feed or a dashboard, the left rail also shows an **AI Assistant** icon — the sparkles — just above **Chats**. On a phone, open the menu to find it.

Click it to open the [Home AI Assistant](/docs/ai-assistance/home-ai-assistant) on its own page, where you can ask a question, find something, or build — without changing your Work mode. The icon fills in while you are there. To leave, open the menu and click the Zira logo to go home, or pick any site or channel.

If your Work mode is already AI Assistant, the icon does not appear — the assistant is your home page.

## Search inside the sidebar list

When you open a section such as **Channels**, **Sites**, or **Vision Devices**, you can use the search box in that sidebar to filter the list.

![Channels sidebar showing the search box and matching results.](/docs/navigation/app-bar-and-sidebar/02-channels-sidebar-search.png)

This is the fastest way to find:

- one specific channel
- one site
- one device
- or another item inside the section you already opened

## Use the top app bar for page search and account actions

Across the top of the page, Zira shows the app bar.

This area usually includes:

- the current page search
- your profile picture
- page-level actions tied to the screen you are viewing

![Vision Devices page showing the sidebar on the left and the top app bar across the page.](/docs/navigation/app-bar-and-sidebar/03-vision-sidebar-and-top-bar.png)

Use the top search when you want to search the page you are already on, such as posts, dashboards, or another list view.

Use your profile picture in the top-right corner when you want account-related actions such as profile, preferences, password, help, or sign out.

## A simple way to think about navigation

Use the **sidebar** when you want to go to a different place in Zira.

Use the **top app bar** when you want to work inside the page you already opened.

That usually means:

- sidebar for section switching and item lists
- top app bar for page search and account shortcuts

## Read next

- [Update Your Profile](/docs/getting-started/profile-preferences/profile) - Change your profile details and image.
- [Change Your Preferences](/docs/getting-started/profile-preferences/preferences) - Update theme, date format, and home page behavior.
- [Home AI Assistant](/docs/ai-assistance/home-ai-assistant) - Ask, find, and build from one chat.
- [AI Help Assistant](/docs/ai-assistance/help-assistant) - Ask product questions in plain language.


Use the sidebar and top app bar to move between sections, search lists, open channel pages, and reach account shortcuts while you work.

App Bar and Sidebar


Use AI Agents when you want a repeatable AI reporting flow instead of a one-time answer.

An AI Agent lets you save:

- a name and description
- the dashboard it belongs to
- the widgets it should use as context
- the question it should answer
- the answer style you want to keep

This is helpful when a team wants a consistent summary for the same dashboard data over time.

## Open AI Agents

1. Open the channel where the agent belongs.
2. Click the **AI Agents** tab.
3. Review the current list or click **Add Agent** to create a new one.

## Create a new AI Agent

1. Click **Add Agent**.
2. Enter a name.
3. Add a short description.
4. Select the dashboard the agent should use.
5. Continue into the agent setup screen.

Choose a name that tells people what the agent is for, such as a daily performance summary, a shift review, or an exceptions report.

## Configure the agent

On the setup screen, define the parts that control the answer:

### Name and description

Use these to explain what the agent is meant to produce.

### Dashboard

This shows which dashboard the agent is tied to.

### Time Range

Use this to control the time period the agent should analyze. Besides presets such as **This Week**,
the **Custom** tab offers a relative range such as the last 4 weeks, which moves forward each time the
agent runs.

### Question

This is the main instruction the agent will answer every time.

### Answer style

Use style options to shape how the answer should read.

### Widget context

Select the widgets that should provide the data context for the answer.

## Select the right widgets

The widget selection is one of the most important parts of the setup.

1. Open the **Widgets** selection section.
2. Select the charts or KPIs that belong in the report.
3. Review the preview cards on the right.

Try to keep the context focused. When the agent pulls from too many unrelated widgets, the answer can become less clear.

## Write a strong default question

A good agent question should describe the recurring job you want the agent to do.

Examples:

- Summarize the most important production changes in this time range.
- Identify unusual drops or spikes and explain what stands out.
- Compare key metrics across the selected widgets.

If the answer feels too generic, narrow the question and tell the agent what kind of insight matters most.

## Preview the answer before saving

1. Click **Generate**.
2. Review the answer preview.
3. Adjust the question, answer style, or widgets if needed.
4. Generate again until the result matches what you want.

This preview step is important because it lets you refine the agent before other users rely on it.

## Save the agent

When the setup looks right:

1. Click **Save**.
2. Return to the **AI Agents** list when needed.
3. Open the agent again later to continue refining it.

## Update an existing AI Agent

Use the existing agent page when you want to:

- change the question
- update the selected widgets
- adjust the time range
- refine the answer style
- change the text size for the preview

The best workflow is usually:

1. open the existing agent
2. change one thing at a time
3. generate a fresh preview
4. save when the result looks right

## When to use AI Agents instead of AI Assistance

Use **AI Agents** when:

- the question should be reused
- the answer should follow a consistent structure
- multiple people need the same reporting logic
- the workflow needs to be revisited and refined over time

Use **AI Assistance** when you are still exploring and have not decided on the final question or style yet.

## Tips for better AI Agents

- Keep the widget context focused.
- Name the agent around the job it performs.
- Use the preview before every major save.
- Keep the question clear and repeatable.
- Use answer styles to make the report easier to scan.

## Read next

- [Dashboard AI Assistant](/docs/ai-assistance/dashboard-ai-assistant) - Test ideas quickly before turning them into a saved agent.


Create and manage reusable AI agents that use selected dashboard widgets, saved questions, and preferred answer styles.

Browse Guides

AI Help Assistant

Open AI Help Assistant

Ask natural product questions

Use it for support-style questions

Wait for the answer

Use the docs below the answer

Ask better questions for better answers

Read next