Knowledge Mode

Knowledge Mode gives you control over how your DataQI assistants respond to questions by determining whether they should use only your private data sources or also include global knowledge from their training data.

Two Knowledge Modes

Private Data Only (Default)

When enabled, the assistant will:

Only use your uploaded documents and connected data sources
Not access general knowledge from its training data
Focus responses on information from your specific data
Indicate when information is not available in your data sources

Global Knowledge

When enabled, the assistant will:

Use both your private data and general knowledge
Provide comprehensive answers combining your data with general information
Fill gaps in your data with relevant general knowledge
Offer broader context and explanations

When to Use Each Mode

Use Private Data Only When:

Compliance requirements demand responses only from your data
Internal documentation should be the primary source of truth
Sensitive information requires strict data boundaries
Specific business processes need to be followed exactly as documented

Use Global Knowledge When:

Educational content needs broader context and explanations
General questions require background information
Comprehensive answers are more valuable than strictly data-driven responses
User experience benefits from more complete information

How to Configure

During Assistant Creation

When creating a new assistant, look for the Knowledge Mode option
Select either:
- Private Data Only (recommended for most business use cases)
- Global Knowledge (for educational or general-purpose assistants)

For Existing Assistants

Go to the assistant’s Manage page
Find the Knowledge Mode setting
Toggle between the two modes as needed
Changes take effect immediately

Visual Indicators

Chat Interface

A banner appears in the chat interface showing which knowledge mode is active
Clear labeling helps users understand the scope of responses
Consistent indication across all conversations with that assistant

Response Behavior

Private Data Only: Responses will clearly indicate when information comes from your data sources
Global Knowledge: Responses may blend your data with general knowledge seamlessly

Examples

Private Data Only Example

Question: “What is our company’s vacation policy?”

Response:

“Based on your employee handbook, your company’s vacation policy includes:

15 days of paid vacation for employees with less than 5 years of service

20 days for employees with 5+ years of service

Vacation requests must be submitted 2 weeks in advance

This information is from your internal HR documentation.”

Global Knowledge Example

Question: “What is our company’s vacation policy?”

Response:

“Based on your employee handbook, your company’s vacation policy includes:

15 days of paid vacation for employees with less than 5 years of service

20 days for employees with 5+ years of service

Vacation requests must be submitted 2 weeks in advance

This is competitive with industry standards, where most companies offer 10-20 days of vacation annually. Your policy aligns well with best practices for employee retention and work-life balance.”

Best Practices

For Business Assistants

Use Private Data Only for most business applications
Ensure data quality since responses depend entirely on your data
Provide comprehensive documentation to cover common questions
Regularly update your data sources with current information

For Educational Assistants

Use Global Knowledge for broader educational content
Combine with private data for organization-specific examples
Monitor responses to ensure appropriate use of general knowledge
Set clear expectations with users about response scope

For Mixed Use Cases

Create separate assistants for different knowledge modes
Use descriptive names to indicate the assistant’s knowledge scope
Train users on which assistant to use for different types of questions

Security Considerations

Private Data Only

Higher security as responses are limited to your data
Compliance-friendly for regulated industries
Reduced risk of information leakage
Requires comprehensive data to be effective

Global Knowledge

Broader information access may include sensitive topics
Potential for bias from training data
Less predictable response boundaries
May require additional monitoring

Troubleshooting

Assistant Not Using Private Data

Verify that data sources are properly connected
Check that Knowledge Mode is set to “Private Data Only”
Ensure data sources contain relevant information
Review assistant instructions for data source usage

Inconsistent Knowledge Mode Behavior

Confirm the mode is set correctly in assistant settings
Check that changes have been saved
Verify the banner shows the correct mode
Test with a new conversation to ensure settings are active