Using the AI Assistant in CPA Buddy

The AI Assistant is a conversational tool that helps you look up firm data, draft actions, and get answers in plain language. Instead of clicking through menus, describe what you need and the assistant routes your request to the right handler.

---

Opening the AI Assistant

Click AI Assistant in the sidebar to open the chat interface.

All authenticated staff in your firm can use the AI Assistant. It respects the same data access rules as the rest of the app — you can only query information you’re authorized to see.

---

Starting a Conversation

When the page loads, you’ll see suggested prompts such as:

• “Send an email to my client about their tax documents”
• “Create a task for reviewing financial statements”
• “Show me all pending engagements”

Type your question in the input box at the bottom and press Enter or click send.

Using @ mentions

You can reference clients or staff with @ mentions in your prompt. Start typing @ followed by a name to tag a specific client or team member. This gives the assistant context for more accurate responses.

---

What the Assistant Can Help With

Depending on your question, the assistant may:

Result type	Examples
Data lookups	Client details, engagement status, task assignments
Drafted actions	Email drafts, task suggestions
Tax information	Deadlines and rules for supported jurisdictions
Help content	Guidance on how to use platform features

The assistant shows progress while it analyzes your intent and may ask a clarifying question if your request is ambiguous.

---

Managing the Conversation

• Clear conversation — Use the clear button in the header (or Ctrl+K / Cmd+K) to start fresh
• Follow-up questions — Ask follow-ups in the same thread; context from earlier messages is preserved within the session

---

Common Questions

The assistant couldn’t understand my request. Try rephrasing with more specific details — include a client name, engagement, or task. Use @ mentions when referring to a specific client.

Can the assistant change data automatically? Some intents produce draft actions or structured results for you to review. The assistant does not silently modify records without your confirmation through the normal UI flows.

Why is the send button disabled? Make sure you’ve typed a message and that your session is fully loaded. If the assistant is still processing a prior request, wait for it to finish.

Is my conversation private to the firm? Yes. Queries are scoped to your firm and your authorized data access level.