Write and send messages to the assistant

The message box sits at the bottom of the AI assistant panel. Use it to write a message, attach files and set how the assistant replies. To learn where the panel opens and how its conversations work, see The AI assistant.

Write and send a message

1. Click the message box and type. It starts as a single line, about 28 px tall, and grows with your text, up to 192 px. While a question from the assistant waits for your answer, it starts taller, about 44 px.
2. Press Enter to send, or Shift+Enter to start a new line. You can also click Send in the control row.
3. Wait for the reply to finish. One turn runs at a time, so your next message can go out once this one is done. While a reply is running, Cancel in the control row stops it.

• Until the panel connects, the box reads Connecting to assistant… and cannot be used. When it is ready, the box reads Ask the assistant….
• If the assistant asks you a question, answer it in the panel above the box, or type a custom answer; see Answer the assistant's questions.
• Commands start with a slash. Type /compact or /clear-context to run them; both are described in Compact and clear the assistant's context.

The options row

Click + under the message box to open the options row. Its tooltip reads Attach and more while the row is closed, and Hide options while it is open. The row holds:

• The upload control for files.
• The Change acceptance mode picker, which becomes available once the chat has started; see Change acceptance for the assistant.
• The check-PII control for personal-data checks; see PII checks in chat.
• The Reply and dictation language chip.
• The conversation's usage stats, which appear once a conversation exists.

The row is open by default, and your choice to close it is remembered. On a narrow panel the chips drop their labels and keep their icons, and the row's controls are disabled while the panel is not connected.

The control row

The bottom control row holds:

• The model picker: choose the model and its reasoning effort for your messages. Point to the picker to see the full model name. Your choice is remembered for this panel, and the picker is disabled while the panel is not connected or while no models are available.
• A small shield, shown when a non-manual change acceptance mode is active; point to it to read the mode. See Change acceptance for the assistant.
• The context ring: the conversation's token usage. It appears once a conversation exists, and it reads zero after you clear the context; see Compact and clear the assistant's context.
• The mic: starts and stops dictation. It reads Start dictation when idle and Stop dictation while it runs; point to it to see Dictate.
• Send: sends the message. While a reply is running, it becomes Cancel; after you click it, the control waits until the reply actually stops.

Attach images and PDFs

1. Open the options row with + and choose the upload control. You can also paste files into the box, or drag them onto it.
2. Attach images and PDFs. Only the kinds the selected model can read are offered.
3. Each file shows as a tile above the box. Click a tile to open its preview, and use the remove control on the tile to drop a file before sending.
4. A file can go without any text: add it and click Send.

If a file cannot be uploaded, the Upload failed toast appears with "{file.name}" could not be uploaded. Please try again. Attach the file again to retry it.

The assistant panel accepts images and PDFs only. Excel and CSV files are attached in Minds chats instead; see Attach files and Excel data to a chat.

Language and dictation

The Reply and dictation language chip in the options row sets two things: the language the assistant replies in, and the language dictation listens for.

• Open the chip to pick a language. Each choice shows its flag and name, and the chip shows the flag and a short name.
• The choice is shared: every assistant panel replies and dictates in the same language, and it is remembered for you.
• Dictation starts in English (US) until you change the language.

When sending is blocked

Messages send one at a time, and sending waits while the chat is busy or offline:

• Another person is running a turn. The box is locked and names the holder: {name or email} is running a turn.... It opens again when their turn finishes.
• An approval is waiting. Approve or reject the proposed change first; see Approve or reject connector changes.
• A version change is still being applied. Sending waits while a rollback or restore finishes.
• Files are still uploading. Wait for the upload to finish.
• The panel is not connected. The box reads Connecting to assistant… and stays disabled until the connection is ready.

Questions, answered

Why can't I type in the message box?

Someone else is running a turn in this chat. The assistant handles one turn at a time, so the box is locked and names the holder: {name or email} is running a turn.... It opens when their turn finishes. If the panel is not connected yet, the box reads Connecting to assistant… and unlocks once it is ready.

How do I start a new line without sending?

Press Shift+Enter. Enter on its own sends the message.

What kinds of files can I attach?

Images and PDFs. The upload control offers the kinds the selected model can read, so pick a model that supports images or PDFs before attaching.

Can I send an attachment with no message text?

Yes. With a file staged, the empty box is sendable: add the file and click Send to send it on its own.

Why did my file fail to upload?

The Upload failed toast appears when a file cannot be uploaded, with the message "{file.name}" could not be uploaded. Please try again. Attach the file again to retry it.

Which model does the assistant use?

The one shown in the model picker, with the reasoning effort you chose. Your selection applies to your messages and is remembered for this panel. The picker is disabled while the panel is not connected or while no models are available.

Does the language chip change the assistant's replies or only dictation?

Both. The Reply and dictation language chip sets the reply language and the dictation language together, and every assistant panel shares the same choice.

What does the ring next to the box show?

The conversation's token usage. It appears once a conversation exists, and it reads zero after you clear the context. See Compact and clear the assistant's context.

Why does the options row show only icons?

There is not enough width for the labels. As the panel narrows, the chips drop their text and keep their icons; widen the panel and the labels come back.

I cannot send my message. What is blocking it?

Sending waits while an approval is pending, a version change is being applied, or files are still uploading. Decide on a waiting approval on its card first; see Approve or reject connector changes.