Accessing chat modes
Navigate to your chatbot dashboard and select Settings → Chat Modes to configure how conversations begin.Available modes
Always starts new conversation with AI
Every new conversation begins in AI mode, where the chatbot automatically responds to user questions using your trained knowledge base. When to use:- Standard chatbot deployments
- High-volume support scenarios
- 24/7 automated assistance
- Filtering and qualifying leads before human involvement
- User opens the chatbot
- AI responds to all questions automatically
- Users can escalate to human support if needed
- Agents can take over conversations manually
Always starts new conversation with human
Every new conversation begins in human mode, where messages are immediately routed to your team without AI responses. When to use:- High-touch sales processes
- Premium support tiers
- Complex consultations requiring human expertise
- Situations where AI responses aren’t appropriate
- User opens the chatbot
- Messages go directly to your team
- No AI responses are generated
- Agents must respond manually to all messages
When using “Always starts with human” mode, ensure your team is available to respond. Users will not receive any automated responses until a human agent replies.
Switching between modes
Users and agents can switch between AI and human modes during a conversation: From AI to human:- Users can click escalation buttons (if configured)
- Agents can manually take over conversations
- Automatic escalation triggers can activate
- Agents can switch conversations back to AI mode
- Useful after resolving complex issues to let AI handle follow-ups
How chat modes affect features
Feature | AI Mode | Human Mode |
---|---|---|
Automatic responses | ✓ Enabled | ✗ Disabled |
Knowledge base | ✓ Used | ✗ Not used |
Conversation starters | ✓ Shown | ✓ Shown |
Lead collection | ✓ Works | ✓ Works |
Chat history | ✓ Recorded | ✓ Recorded |
Agent notifications | Only on escalation | All messages |
Response time | Instant | Depends on agent availability |
Best practices
Start with AI mode for most use cases
Start with AI mode for most use cases
AI mode handles common questions instantly and escalates complex issues to humans. This provides the best balance of automation and human touch.
Use human mode for VIP customers
Use human mode for VIP customers
Create separate chatbots for different customer segments. Use human mode for premium customers who expect immediate personal attention.
Configure escalation options
Configure escalation options
Even in AI mode, provide clear escalation paths through conversation followups or human support settings.
Set up agent notifications
Set up agent notifications
When using human mode, ensure your team receives notifications for new conversations through integrations like Slack or email.
Monitor response times
Monitor response times
In human mode, track how quickly your team responds. Long wait times can frustrate users who expect instant chatbot responses.
Common use cases
Standard support chatbot (AI mode)
Premium sales concierge (Human mode)
Hybrid approach (AI mode with quick escalation)
Changing chat modes
To change the default chat mode:- Navigate to Settings → Chat Modes
- Select your preferred mode:
- Always starts with AI (recommended)
- Always starts with human
- Changes apply immediately to new conversations
- Existing conversations maintain their current mode
Changing the chat mode only affects new conversations. Ongoing conversations continue in their current mode until manually switched.
Troubleshooting
AI not responding in AI mode
AI not responding in AI mode
- Verify chat mode is set to “Always starts with AI”
- Check that your chatbot has training data
- Ensure the conversation hasn’t been escalated to human mode
- Test in an incognito window to rule out caching issues
No notifications in human mode
No notifications in human mode
- Configure human support settings
- Set up integrations for notifications (Slack, email, etc.)
- Verify team members have proper access permissions
- Check notification settings in your integration platform
Want different modes for different scenarios
Want different modes for different scenarios
Create multiple chatbots with different chat modes:
- Support chatbot (AI mode)
- Sales chatbot (Human mode)
- Use different embed codes on different pages
Users can't escalate to human
Users can't escalate to human
- Add conversation followup buttons for escalation
- Configure human support settings
- Ensure escalation options are visible in the chat interface
Related features
- Human support - Configure escalation and agent notifications
- Conversation followups - Add escalation buttons
- Chat history - View and manage conversations
- Members - Manage team access for handling human conversations
- Integrations - Connect notification channels for human mode