Important links

Figma designs

Overview

We need a mechanism to more easily, more obviously set the context of a channel and summarize a channel’s content without having to use the new message line button.

This proposal adds a new Agents button in the channel header to provide an obvious access point for users.

New button in channel header for channel assistance

If channel assistance is allowed in the channel, Agents add a new button in the channel header that is clearly connected to the channel’s context - ideal next to the files icon button.

At least one bot must have channel assistance allowed for the channel in order for the button to show.

Clicking on this button opens a menu with summarization options to chose from (see below)

Menu options

Choose bot to summarize - shows only if multiple bots are configured
Text box - ask Agents any open-ended question with the channel as the context (up to max history context - TBD)
Summarize unreads - opens the Agents RHS with a summary of unread messages in the channel (same behavior as current new message line capability)
Summarize last 7 days - opens the Agents RHS with a summary of all messages from the last 7 days in a nicely formatted section with highlights and action items (if there are any)
Summarize last 14 days - Same as last 7 days, but increases scope to 14 days

Selecting a custom date range

If ‘Custom date range’ is selected, a modal will be presented to choose the start and end date.

Start date: defaults to a week ago
End date: defaults to today
Maximum range: to start 14 days is the maximum context that can be set - until Agents search is available

Sample summarization response

A nicely formatted, easy-to-consume response will be presented to users when engaging summarization for a channel. We should provide instructions to Mattermost Agents to group the top highlights as a bulleted list and action items and links to sources. Sample output:

‘Ask Agents' open text query

When choosing entering in the open text field from the menu, the user’s question shows as the initial message and the Agent begins streaming a response identifying the channels as the context for the conversation.

Additionally, if a user starts a new blank chat with Agents in the RHS and users ask about ‘this channel’, we should be able to identify the active channel they’re in and produce responses based on that (based on a maximum amount of context that can be fed in from the active channel).

Mobile Experience

Clicking on the channel header gives us the channel header menu, which would have the Ask Agents button and the user can trigger the ask Agents flow by this.

Access control limitations

If no bots configured: This button will not show in the channel header
If user does is blocked from all bots: This button will not show in the channel header
If no bots have been granted access to the channel: This button will not show in the channel header

UX Spec: Channel-Conext Agent Assistance