What are Tools and how do I use them?

What Tools are available in Dartmouth Chat?   How do I access and enable a Tool?   How do I set a default tool selection for all chats?   How do I use my selected Tools?  

Tools can be used within Dartmouth Chat to expand its functionality by performing simple tasks. Behind the scenes, Tools are Python scripts that – when enabled and configured – allow you to access additional functionality within Dartmouth Chat. Tools are enabled by the user, but triggered by the model. Turning them on does not guarantee that the model will use it. Once it is enabled, however, you can explicitly ask the model to use a tool.

There are several Tools available within Dartmouth Chat, each with its own purpose and functionality. Tools can be used individually or in combination with one another.

What Tools are available in Dartmouth Chat?  

  • Web Search Tool. This tool allows the model to search the web and fetch website content to enrich responses.

  • Knowledge Tool. This tool allows the model to list, view, and query available Knowledge collections.

  • Image Tool. This tool allows the model to create and edit images.

  • Create Document Tool. This tool allows the model to create Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other documents.

  • Chats Tool. This tool allows the model to list, view, and query previous chats.

  • Notes Tool. This tool allows the model to list, view, and edit notes.

  • Time Utility Tool. This tool gets the current time and date.

How do I access and enable a Tool?  

You can access and enable the available Tools from within models that support Tools (these models are tagged in the model drop-down as “TOOL CALLING”). This gives the model permission to utilize the Tool when prompted. To access the Tool, open a new chat, and select the Integration menu from just below the prompt field. You will see a list of Tools identified by the wrench icon to the left of their name. You can mouse over the name to get a description of the Tool. You can enable or disable a Tool by moving the slider located to the right of the Tool name.

Enabling Tools from the Integration menu

How do I set a default tool selection for all chats?  

You can set up a default tool selection for all chats by using Personalization settings. Go to your avatar and select “Settings”. Click on “Personalization” and enable individual tools by default.

Enabling Tools through Personalization Settings

How do I use my selected Tools?  

Once you’ve enabled the Tool, there will be a wrench icon added in the main message bar, listing the number of Tools currently enabled. You can click on the wrench icon to get a pop-up showing your current list of enabled Tools. In subsequent conversations, the model will utilize available tools as it deems appropriate to enrich its responses.

Look for new Tools to be added to Dartmouth Chat over time.

Didn’t find what you needed? Please reach out to research.computing@dartmouth.edu.

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