# Discourse AI - Helper
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-ai-helper/283943
**Category:** Site Management
**Tags:** how-to, ai, ai-helper
**Created:** [October 31, 2023, 5:39pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-ai-helper/283943 "2023-10-31T17:39:59Z")
**Posts on this page:** 18
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Discourse](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Discourse)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2023, 5:39pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-ai-helper/283943/1 "2023-10-31T17:39:59Z")
> :bookmark: This guide explains how to set up and use the Helper feature of the [Discourse AI](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-ai/259214?silent=true) plugin, including its capabilities and configuration options.
>
> :person_raising_hand: Required user level: Administrator
Helper assists users in community interaction, such as creating topics, writing posts, and reading content. It’s designed to enhance user productivity and improve the overall quality of contributions.
## Features
### Within composer
> :information_source: Note: In this demonstration, there was already written content in the composer.
Helper offers several features when creating new topics or replies:
- Generating topic titles, tags, and categories based on the content
- Proofreading text - including grammar and spelling checks
- Windows keyboard shortcut: CTRLALTP
- MacOS keyboard shortcut: ⌘⌥ P
- Translating selected text to the forum’s default language
- Creating Markdown tables
- Custom prompts for various text transformations
- Viewing and managing AI-suggested changes
- AI-powered captions for any uploaded images
- Turn any written dates to markdown-friendly [Smart dates](https://meta.discourse.org/t/helper-smart-dates/344984)
### While reading topics and posts
When browsing the forum, Helper can:
- Translate selected text to the user’s interface language
- Explain the meaning of the selected text within the context of the topic
- Proofreading text - including grammar and spelling checks
- Custom prompts for various text transformations
- [Helper - Automatic chat threads titles](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-ai-automatic-chat-threads-titles/285004)
## Enabling Helper
### Prerequisites
You must configure at least _one_ Large Language Model (LLM) from a provider.
> :information_source: **If your site is hosted by Discourse**
>
> You can select our CDCK Hosted Small LLM from the LLM list.
To get started you can configure them through the [Discourse AI - Large Language Model (LLM) settings page](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-ai-large-language-model-llm-settings-page/319903).
- [OpenAI](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-ai-openai-configure-api-keys/280783)
- [Anthropic](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-ai-anthropic-configure-api-key/280936)
- [Azure OpenAI](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-ai-azure-openai-configure-api-keys/282442)
- AWS Bedrock with Anthropic access
- HuggingFace Endpoints
- [Self-Hosting an OpenSource LLM](https://meta.discourse.org/t/self-hosting-an-opensource-llm-for-discourseai/290923)
- [Google Gemini](https://meta.discourse.org/t/configure-api-keys-for-google-gemini/289556)
- Cohere
- SambaNova
- Mistral
- Open Router
- Groq
### Configuration
1. Navigate to **Admin** → **Settings** → **Discourse AI**
2. Ensure the `discourse ai enabled` setting is checked
3. Click on the “Features” tab in the AI admin panel
4. Select “Unconfigured” features filter and find the section for **Helper**
5. Click Edit on the Helper section
6. Enable the Helper feature by checking `ai helper enabled`
7. Configure any other Helper related settings while you’re here [[1]](#footnote-1394929-1)
The Helper feature is composed of several subsets, including proofreading, title suggestions, explain, post illustrator, and more. In the Helper settings, you can use the default agents assigned to each feature or configure alternative agents.
To manage [agents](https://meta.discourse.org/t/ai-bot-personas/306099) and the LLM models attached to them, go to Admin → Settings → Discourse AI → Agents.
### Customizing Helper features
You can selectively enable or disable specific Helper features using the `ai helper enabled features` setting found in the Helper features page. Available options include:
- `suggestions`: Controls suggestion buttons for titles, categories, and tags
- `context_menu`: Manages the menu for custom prompts, translation, and proofreading
- `image_caption`: Turns on AI-powered image captions through auto caption or “Caption with AI” button
## Technical FAQ
**Unable to see the AI button next to the title, tag, or category?**
- AI Helper within composer requires a minimum of 40 characters in the composer to appear and function.
**How does the “Explain” feature work?**
- Explain uses the topic title, post content, and selected text as context for the LLM to generate output.
**What are some uses of custom prompts?**
- Custom prompts can be used for various purposes, such as changing tone or translating to specific languages.
**How accurate are Helper’s translations?**
- While generally reliable, translations may be less accurate for uncommon languages.
## Caveats
- We recommend limiting Helper access to specific user groups to help control costs associated with third-party LLM providers.
* * *
1. For example:
> Last edited by @pedro 2025-10-25T04:13:18Z
>
> Last checked by @hugh 2024-08-06T02:33:06Z
>
> > **Check document**
> >
> > Perform check on document:
---
### Author:  [@EricGT](https://meta.discourse.org/u/EricGT)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2023, 6:21pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-ai-helper/283943/2 "2023-10-31T18:21:56Z")
Sorry I can’t give this topic a like at present. :slightly_frowning_face: Don’t take that to mean I don’t like what the AI is doing, I think that part is great.
The video started from a `Draft` and most users will start from `New Topic` so it was a bit confusing for me when I tried this on the OpenAI forum where this is active thinking it should work.
When I started with `New Topic` I had to enter the title, select a category, skipped adding tags and add two lines in the post before the magic AI options appeared.
Then after adding more text the AI buttons appeared.
* * *
I do find the post quite useful and you did a nice job, just needs some clarification for users not use to this technology.
---
### Author:  [@EricGT](https://meta.discourse.org/u/EricGT)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2023, 6:35pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-ai-helper/283943/3 "2023-10-31T18:35:39Z")
Side note:
In the early days of the Discourse AI there was the ability to have the AI generate a new title for the topic based on the existing text. I used this often as a category moderator when they titles ran long, think wrapped around when viewing in a list. Then the way to do this vanished; I may have missed how it was supposed to be done but now it is back with this.
As a category moderator one can not edit a post and the AI option is next to the title for changing.
Was looking for that in the announcement, might be worth a mention. :wink:
* * *
The following post contains some screenshots.
> **[Suggestion to add for Chat GPT](https://community.openai.com/t/suggestion-to-add-for-chat-gpt/93986/45?u=ericgt)**
>
> Please consider making the title more specific. The only reason I am reading this topic is because it is getting long and as a moderator I tend to review long topics. Do you have the AI button next to the title in edit mode?
---
### Author:  [@Saif](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Saif)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2023, 8:14pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-ai-helper/283943/4 "2023-10-31T20:14:18Z")
> [@EricGT](#):
>
> The video started from a `Draft` and most users will start from `New Topic` so it was a bit confusing for me when I tried this on the OpenAI forum where this is active thinking it should work.
>
> When I started with `New Topic` I had to enter the title, select a category, skipped adding tags and add two lines in the post before the magic AI options appeared.
Hey @EricGT so the video I put in a note that says that the content is already there. It was trying to make the demo video as short and succinct as possible.
> [@EricGT](#):
>
> Then after adding more text the AI buttons appeared.
I have the following documented for that reason!
> [@Saif](#):
>
> ## Technical FAQ
>
> - **How does AI Helper work within Composer? Why am I not seeing the :sparkles: icon?**
> - AI Helper uses text content (min 10 words) within Composer and passes that context to a Large Language Model (LLM) to generate topic titles/tags/categories/etc
---
### Author:  [@JammyDodger](https://meta.discourse.org/u/JammyDodger)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 9:27pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-ai-helper/283943/5 "2024-02-02T21:27:51Z")
Little update on this one…
You can now select/deselect AI helper features using the setting `ai_helper_enabled_features`: :partying_face:
[https://github.com/discourse/discourse-ai/pull/458](https://github.com/discourse/discourse-ai/pull/458)
---
### Author:  [@bekircem](https://meta.discourse.org/u/bekircem)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2024, 1:17pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-ai-helper/283943/6 "2024-02-19T13:17:49Z")
```plaintext
ai_helper_model: We couldn't get a response from this model. Check your settings first.
```
What could be the problem? I’ve identified the Open AI key.
---
### Author:  [@Falco](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Falco)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2024, 4:15pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-ai-helper/283943/7 "2024-02-19T16:15:09Z")
> [@bekircem](#):
>
> What could be the problem? I’ve identified the Open AI key.
Is your OpenAI API key working? Can you issue a request for that same model from your PC?
---
### Author:  [@bekircem](https://meta.discourse.org/u/bekircem)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2024, 4:24pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-ai-helper/283943/8 "2024-02-19T16:24:37Z")
It seems like it’s showing as unused in the OpenAI dashboard. But could it be because the configuration wasn’t completed? How can I verify this on my local machine?
---
### Author:  [@mattdm](https://meta.discourse.org/u/mattdm)
#### Post date: [April 10, 2024, 4:52pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-ai-helper/283943/9 "2024-04-10T16:52:53Z")
> [@JammyDodger](#):
>
> You can now select/deselect AI helper features using the setting `ai_helper_enabled_features`:
What features are available, and what does each one do?
---
### Author:  [@Saif](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Saif)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2024, 7:09pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-ai-helper/283943/10 "2024-04-12T19:09:07Z")
> [@mattdm](#):
>
> What features are available, and what does each one do?
The AI helper in the composer encompasses three main features including `suggestions`, `context_menu`, and `image_caption`
The setting allows us to have granular control of the AI helper by being able to enable/disable those main features.
1. `suggestions` refers to the the suggestion buttons that appear in the composer next to the title/category/tags. Clicking the suggestion button can suggest topic titles, category, tags, etc.
2. `context_menu` refers the the menu that appears when you select a portion of text in the composer, i.e. the menu that pops up with the custom prompt/translate/proofread/etc
3. `image_caption` refers to the “Caption with AI” button that appears when you hover over an uploaded image in the composer preview. This allows you to generate a caption based on the contents of the image.
---
### Author:  [@mattdm](https://meta.discourse.org/u/mattdm)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2024, 7:32pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-ai-helper/283943/11 "2024-04-12T19:32:19Z")
Instead of a setting for which features are enabled, how about a setting for each, for which groups each is enabled for (if any)?
---
### Author:  [@mattdm](https://meta.discourse.org/u/mattdm)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2024, 7:35pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-ai-helper/283943/12 "2024-04-12T19:35:08Z")
And actually, also… could the context menu items be separated? Ideally the same suggestion — list of groups for each.
---
### Author:  [@Saif](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Saif)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2024, 9:34pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-ai-helper/283943/15 "2024-04-16T21:34:17Z")
> [@mattdm](#):
>
> And actually, also… could the context menu items be separated? Ideally the same suggestion — list of groups for each.
I think eventually we would like to move to a system to provide more granular control of features within AI Helper and in other AI features, something in the radar for the future
---
### Author:  [@Moin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Moin)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2024, 10:09am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-ai-helper/283943/16 "2024-07-31T10:09:22Z")
> [@Discourse](#):
>
> While writing, you can select text anywhere and ask the AI Helper to proofread, generate a markdown table, or translate into English.
I think “translate to English” is outdated.
> [@Discourse](#):
>
> **While reading topics/posts**
>
> - Only for logged-in users
> - Translate selected text to English
Now it’s translate to user’s interface language
> [@Discourse](#):
>
> **Within Composer**
>
> - Only for logged-in users, can be used when creating a new topic or replying
> - Generate topic titles/tags/categories, based on text context content within Composer
> - Proofread selected text
> - Translate selected text to English
Now it’s translate to forum’s default language
---
### Author:  [@jrgong](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jrgong)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2024, 11:54am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-ai-helper/283943/17 "2024-08-01T11:54:22Z")
Is there any way do add additional prompt or instructions to the translation prompt?
In our case we want to offer translations EN-\>DE and add the instruction to use the informal you (Du) instead of the formal (Sie) you by default.
---
### Author:  [@Falco](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Falco)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2024, 4:58pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-ai-helper/283943/18 "2024-11-12T16:58:20Z")
6 posts were split to a new topic: [Will RAG Support PDF Files in the Future?](https://meta.discourse.org/t/will-rag-support-pdf-files-in-the-future/335804)
---
### Author:  [@EricGT](https://meta.discourse.org/u/EricGT)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2025, 4:45pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-ai-helper/283943/19 "2025-01-05T16:45:24Z")
> [@EricGT](#):
>
> Sorry I can’t give this topic a like at present. :slightly_frowning_face: Don’t take that to mean I don’t like what the AI is doing, I think that part is great.
Really wanted to use strike-through with the text but can’t edit the post.
The first post is really nice and quite useful, so I gave it a thumbs up. I really do appreciate the extra effort put into your post and look forward to reading more.
---
### Author:  [@sam](https://meta.discourse.org/u/sam)
#### Post date: [March 2, 2026, 3:29am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-ai-helper/283943/24 "2026-03-02T03:29:37Z")
A post was split to a new topic: [How do I translate AI Summaries?](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-do-i-translate-ai-summaries/397395)