> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ravenna.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# AI Assistant

> Configure Ravenna's AI Assistant in Slack to deliver agent-powered answers through direct messages and the Slack Assistant panel for instant support.

The Ravenna AI Assistant brings <Tooltip headline="Agents" tip="AI Agents with custom prompts and tool integrations that automate Slack support" cta="Learn about Agents" href="/documentation/automate/agents/overview">Agent</Tooltip>-powered support into Slack. Chat with Ravenna via direct messages or the Slack Assistant panel to get instant answers, create tickets, and get help without leaving Slack.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://d1kzozfjh72w00.cloudfront.net/documentation/screenshots/platform/slack/assistant/preview.png" alt="Ravenna Assistant overview" />
</Frame>

***

## Set up the AI Assistant

The AI Assistant requires two configurations: a default channel with an assigned Agent, and workspace visibility settings.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Assign an Agent to your default channel">
    The AI Assistant uses the Agent assigned to your workspace's default <Tooltip headline="Channels" tip="Channels organize tickets by team, topic, or workflow. Each channel has its own settings, integrations, and routing rules" cta="Learn about Channels" href="/documentation/platform/channels">channel</Tooltip>.

    Go to **Workspace Settings > General** and click **Select** in the **Default Channel** card to choose your default channel.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://d1kzozfjh72w00.cloudfront.net/documentation/screenshots/platform/slack/assistant/default-channel.png" alt="Default channel configuration" />
    </Frame>

    Then ensure an Agent is assigned to that channel in **Channel Settings > Agent**.

    <Warning>
      The AI Assistant will not function without both a default channel selected and an Agent assigned to that channel.
    </Warning>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable workspace visibility">
    Choose which workspaces users can access when chatting with the AI Assistant.

    Go to **Workspace Settings > Slack** and toggle **Visibility → Show in Slack Assistant**.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://d1kzozfjh72w00.cloudfront.net/documentation/screenshots/platform/slack/assistant/show-in-assistant.png" alt="Show in Slack Assistant setting" />
    </Frame>

    Any workspace with this toggle enabled appears as an option when users start a conversation with the AI Assistant.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Callout icon="link" color="#6B7280">
  Learn more about [Agent configuration](/documentation/automate/agents/overview) to customize behavior, rules, and knowledge sources
</Callout>

***

## Access the AI Assistant

You can access the AI Assistant in two ways.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Slack app">
    Access through the Ravenna app interface with full conversation history.

    <Steps>
      <Step title="Open the app">
        Click the Ravenna app in the **Apps** section in Slack.

        <Frame>
          <img src="https://d1kzozfjh72w00.cloudfront.net/documentation/screenshots/platform/slack/assistant/slack-app.png" alt="Ravenna app in Slack" />
        </Frame>
      </Step>

      <Step title="Start chatting">
        Click the **Chat** tab to open a new conversation with Ravenna.

        <Frame>
          <img src="https://d1kzozfjh72w00.cloudfront.net/documentation/screenshots/platform/slack/assistant/chat-tab.png" alt="Chat tab" />
        </Frame>
      </Step>

      <Step title="View history">
        Access previous conversations in the **History** tab.

        <Frame>
          <img src="https://d1kzozfjh72w00.cloudfront.net/documentation/screenshots/platform/slack/assistant/history.png" alt="Conversation history" />
        </Frame>
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Assistant panel">
    Quick-access panel available from anywhere in Slack.

    <Steps>
      <Step title="Open the panel">
        Click the Ravenna Assistant icon in Slack's toolbar (top right corner).

        <Frame>
          <img src="https://d1kzozfjh72w00.cloudfront.net/documentation/screenshots/platform/slack/assistant/assistant-tab.png" alt="Assistant icon" />
        </Frame>
      </Step>

      <Step title="Chat with Ravenna">
        The assistant panel opens, ready for your questions.

        <Frame>
          <img src="https://d1kzozfjh72w00.cloudfront.net/documentation/screenshots/platform/slack/assistant/assistant-chat.png" alt="Assistant panel" />
        </Frame>
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

***

## How it works

The AI Assistant uses the Agent assigned to your workspace's default channel. The Agent follows all its configured settings when responding, just as it would in a public channel.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Agent behavior" icon="bot" defaultOpen>
    The Agent responds according to its configuration, including:

    * Rules and escalation instructions
    * Knowledge sources and tools
    * Personality, tone, and response length
    * Auto-submit and response delay settings

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://d1kzozfjh72w00.cloudfront.net/documentation/screenshots/platform/slack/assistant/ai-responses.png" alt="AI response example" />
    </Frame>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Workspace selection" icon="building-2">
    When starting a conversation, users select which workspace context to use. This determines:

    * Which Agent responds (the one assigned to that workspace's default channel)
    * Which knowledge sources the Agent can access
    * Which default channel receives tickets if created
    * Which workspace settings apply to the conversation
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Automatic ticket creation" icon="ticket">
    When the Agent cannot answer a question, conversations automatically convert to tickets for human support. The ticket is created in the workspace's default channel and includes the full conversation history.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Conversation history" icon="history">
    All conversations are saved and accessible from the History tab in the Ravenna app. Users can review past conversations and continue where they left off.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="File attachments" icon="paperclip">
    Share files directly in a conversation with the AI Assistant. The Agent reads PDFs, images, and other supported documents, then uses their contents to answer questions or prefill ticket forms. The Agent briefly waits for the upload to finish before responding so the file contents are available when it replies.

    Learn more about [file handling in agents](/documentation/automate/agents/customize#slack-behavior).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>