feat(home): make Ask turns answer from the searched sources with the knowledge tool alone

Author: waleedlatif1

apps/sim/app/workspace/[workspaceId]/home/home.tsx

@@ -511,7 +511,12 @@ export function Home({ chatId, userName, userId }: HomeProps) {
               searchedKnowledgeBases(knowledgeBasesRef.current, workspaceId)
             )
           : contexts
-      sendMessage(trimmed || 'Analyze the attached file(s).', fileAttachments, turnContexts)
+      sendMessage(
+        trimmed || 'Analyze the attached file(s).',
+        fileAttachments,
+        turnContexts,
+        mode === 'ask' ? { requestMode: 'ask' } : undefined
+      )
     },
     [workspaceId, chatId, prepareResourceViewForAgentTurn, sendMessage, setSearchQuery]
   )
@@ -561,6 +566,7 @@ export function Home({ chatId, userName, userId }: HomeProps) {
       prepareResourceViewForAgentTurn()
       sendMessage(detail.message, detail.fileAttachments, detail.contexts, {
         ...(detail.resumeUserMessageId ? { resumeUserMessageId: detail.resumeUserMessageId } : {}),
+        ...(detail.requestMode ? { requestMode: detail.requestMode } : {}),
       })
     }
     window.addEventListener(MOTHERSHIP_SEND_MESSAGE_EVENT, handler)
@@ -595,6 +601,7 @@ export function Home({ chatId, userName, userId }: HomeProps) {
         ...(handoff.resumeUserMessageId
           ? { resumeUserMessageId: handoff.resumeUserMessageId }
           : {}),
+        ...(handoff.requestMode ? { requestMode: handoff.requestMode } : {}),
       })
       return
     }

apps/sim/app/workspace/[workspaceId]/home/hooks/use-chat.ts

@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@ import type { WorkflowMetadata } from '@/stores/workflows/registry/types'
 import type {
   ChatMessage,
   ChatMessageContext,
+  ChatRequestMode,
   ContentBlock,
   FileAttachmentForApi,
   GenericResourceData,
@@ -158,6 +159,8 @@ export interface SendMessageOptions {
    * attempts instead of opening a second chat.
    */
   resumeUserMessageId?: string
+  /** Asked for beyond the default agent turn; `ask` answers from the attached knowledge alone. */
+  requestMode?: ChatRequestMode
 }
 
 /**
@@ -181,6 +184,7 @@ interface StartSendMessageOptions {
    * opening a second chat and billing a second turn.
    */
   resumeUserMessageId?: string
+  requestMode?: ChatRequestMode
 }
 
 /** A send an unmount cleanup withdrew, as handed to the next chat surface. */
@@ -189,6 +193,7 @@ interface WithdrawnSend {
   fileAttachments?: FileAttachmentForApi[]
   contexts?: ChatContext[]
   userMessageId: string
+  requestMode?: ChatRequestMode
 }
 
 export interface UseChatReturn {
@@ -299,6 +304,7 @@ interface QueuedSendHandoffState {
   message: string
   fileAttachments?: FileAttachmentForApi[]
   contexts?: ChatContext[]
+  requestMode?: ChatRequestMode
   requestedAt: number
   resolveAttempts?: number
 }
@@ -3698,7 +3704,8 @@ export function useChat(
       message: string,
       fileAttachments?: FileAttachmentForApi[],
       contexts?: ChatContext[],
-      resumeUserMessageId?: string
+      resumeUserMessageId?: string,
+      requestMode?: ChatRequestMode
     ): QueuedMothershipMessage => {
       const id = generateId()
       const handoffChatId = selectedChatIdRef.current ?? chatIdRef.current
@@ -3719,6 +3726,7 @@ export function useChat(
         fileAttachments,
         contexts,
         ...(resumeUserMessageId ? { resumeUserMessageId } : {}),
+        ...(requestMode ? { requestMode } : {}),
         ...(supersededStreamId || handoffChatId
           ? {
               queuedSendHandoff: {
@@ -3860,6 +3868,7 @@ export function useChat(
           message,
           ...(fileAttachments ? { fileAttachments } : {}),
           ...(contexts ? { contexts } : {}),
+          ...(options?.requestMode ? { requestMode: options.requestMode } : {}),
           requestedAt: Date.now(),
         })
       }
@@ -4086,6 +4095,7 @@ export function useChat(
             ...(fileAttachments && fileAttachments.length > 0 ? { fileAttachments } : {}),
             ...(resourceAttachments ? { resourceAttachments } : {}),
             ...(contexts && contexts.length > 0 ? { contexts } : {}),
+            ...(options?.requestMode ? { mode: options.requestMode } : {}),
             ...(workflowIdRef.current ? { workflowId: workflowIdRef.current } : {}),
             // Desktop-only capabilities (local filesystem tools, browser
             // subagent) — the server gates the features on these flags.
@@ -4286,7 +4296,13 @@ export function useChat(
   const handOffWithdrawnSend = useCallback(
     (send: WithdrawnSend) => {
       if (
-        sendMothershipMessage(send.content, send.contexts, send.fileAttachments, send.userMessageId)
+        sendMothershipMessage(
+          send.content,
+          send.contexts,
+          send.fileAttachments,
+          send.userMessageId,
+          send.requestMode
+        )
       ) {
         return
       }
@@ -4296,6 +4312,7 @@ export function useChat(
           ...(send.contexts?.length ? { contexts: send.contexts } : {}),
           ...(send.fileAttachments?.length ? { fileAttachments: send.fileAttachments } : {}),
           resumeUserMessageId: send.userMessageId,
+          ...(send.requestMode ? { requestMode: send.requestMode } : {}),
         },
         workspaceId
       )
@@ -4352,7 +4369,13 @@ export function useChat(
       ) {
         queueStore.enqueue(
           activeChatKey,
-          createQueuedMessage(message, fileAttachments, contexts, options?.resumeUserMessageId)
+          createQueuedMessage(
+            message,
+            fileAttachments,
+            contexts,
+            options?.resumeUserMessageId,
+            options?.requestMode
+          )
         )
         if (pendingStopPromiseRef.current || (queuedAheadCount > 0 && !sendingRef.current)) {
           void enqueueQueueDispatchRef.current({ type: 'send_head' })
@@ -4373,6 +4396,7 @@ export function useChat(
         fileAttachments,
         contexts,
         userMessageId: result.userMessageId,
+        ...(options?.requestMode ? { requestMode: options.requestMode } : {}),
       }
       if (activeChatKey.startsWith(PENDING_CHAT_KEY_PREFIX)) {
         handOffWithdrawnSend(withdrawn)
@@ -4382,7 +4406,13 @@ export function useChat(
         .getState()
         .enqueue(
           activeChatKey,
-          createQueuedMessage(message, fileAttachments, contexts, result.userMessageId)
+          createQueuedMessage(
+            message,
+            fileAttachments,
+            contexts,
+            result.userMessageId,
+            options?.requestMode
+          )
         )
     },
     [workspaceId, createQueuedMessage, startSendMessage, handOffWithdrawnSend]
@@ -4556,6 +4586,7 @@ export function useChat(
     recoveringQueuedSendHandoffRef.current = { id: handoff.id, ownerId: claimOwnerId }
     void startSendMessage(handoff.message, handoff.fileAttachments, handoff.contexts, {
       pendingStop: null,
+      ...(handoff.requestMode ? { requestMode: handoff.requestMode } : {}),
       queuedSendHandoff: {
         id: handoff.id,
         chatId: handoff.chatId,
@@ -5016,6 +5047,7 @@ export function useChat(
             ...(liveMsg.resumeUserMessageId
               ? { resumeUserMessageId: liveMsg.resumeUserMessageId }
               : {}),
+            ...(liveMsg.requestMode ? { requestMode: liveMsg.requestMode } : {}),
           }
         )
 

apps/sim/app/workspace/[workspaceId]/home/types.ts

@@ -23,11 +23,19 @@ export interface FileAttachmentForApi {
   path?: string
 }
 
+/**
+ * A request mode a send asks the agent for beyond the default. `ask` is an
+ * answer drawn from the attached knowledge bases with the knowledge tool
+ * alone: the server attaches no integration tools to the turn.
+ */
+export type ChatRequestMode = 'ask'
+
 export interface QueuedMessage {
   id: string
   content: string
   fileAttachments?: FileAttachmentForApi[]
   contexts?: ChatContext[]
+  requestMode?: ChatRequestMode
 }
 
 export const ToolCallStatus = {

apps/sim/lib/copilot/chat/ask-mode.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import { ASK_MODE_AGENT_CONTEXT, withAskModeContext } from '@/lib/copilot/chat/ask-mode'
+
+const knowledge = { type: 'knowledge', content: '', tag: '@Sim Search', path: 'knowledge/x.json' }
+
+describe('withAskModeContext', () => {
+  it('appends the Ask skill after the attached contexts on an Ask turn', () => {
+    expect(withAskModeContext([knowledge], 'ask')).toEqual([knowledge, ASK_MODE_AGENT_CONTEXT])
+  })
+
+  it('leaves every other mode untouched', () => {
+    for (const mode of ['agent', 'build', 'plan', undefined]) {
+      expect(withAskModeContext([knowledge], mode)).toEqual([knowledge])
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('renders as a skill the agent injects for the turn', () => {
+    expect(ASK_MODE_AGENT_CONTEXT.type).toBe('skill')
+    expect(ASK_MODE_AGENT_CONTEXT.content).toContain('<source>')
+    expect(ASK_MODE_AGENT_CONTEXT.content).toContain('query')
+  })
+})

apps/sim/lib/copilot/chat/ask-mode.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+/** A context item as the agent receives it; skills carry their instructions in `content`. */
+export interface AskModeAgentContext {
+  type: 'skill'
+  tag: string
+  content: string
+}
+
+/** The request mode of an Ask turn, as the composer sends it. */
+export const ASK_REQUEST_MODE = 'ask'
+
+/**
+ * The instructions an Ask turn carries. Rendered by the agent as an active
+ * skill for the turn, alongside the knowledge bases the composer attached, so
+ * the model searches them and answers with citations instead of reaching for
+ * a connected service. The executor refuses integration tools on the turn as
+ * well; this is what tells the model up front.
+ */
+export const ASK_MODE_AGENT_CONTEXT: AskModeAgentContext = {
+  type: 'skill',
+  tag: '@Ask',
+  content: [
+    'The person chose Ask: they want an answer drawn from their connected sources, not an action.',
+    '',
+    '- Answer only from the knowledge bases attached to this message. Search them with the knowledge tool `query` operation, and search again with other phrasings when the first pass returns little. Do not read a base or its metadata first; search.',
+    "- Do not use integrations, workflows, tables, files, or the browser. Integration tools are unavailable on this turn. When the question needs live data that is not indexed (today's inbox, a calendar), say that Ask answers from indexed content and suggest Build.",
+    '- Cite every claim with a `<source>` tag exactly as the knowledge tool describes. When nothing relevant is found, say so plainly instead of guessing.',
+    '- Keep the answer short: lead with the answer, then the supporting points.',
+  ].join('\n'),
+}
+
+/** The turn's contexts with the Ask instructions appended when the request asked for Ask mode. */
+export function withAskModeContext<T extends { type: string; content: string }>(
+  contexts: T[],
+  mode: string | undefined
+): Array<T | AskModeAgentContext> {
+  return mode === ASK_REQUEST_MODE ? [...contexts, ASK_MODE_AGENT_CONTEXT] : contexts
+}

apps/sim/lib/copilot/chat/post.ts

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { isZodError, validationErrorResponse } from '@/lib/api/server'
 import { getSession } from '@/lib/auth'
 import { resolveBillingAttribution } from '@/lib/billing/core/billing-attribution'
 import { chatOperations } from '@/lib/copilot/application/operations'
+import { withAskModeContext } from '@/lib/copilot/chat/ask-mode'
 import {
   DESKTOP_TERMINAL_HINT_ID_MAX_LENGTH,
   DESKTOP_TERMINAL_HINT_TEXT_MAX_LENGTH,
@@ -934,7 +935,7 @@ async function resolveBranch(params: {
           workspaceId: requestedWorkspaceId,
           userId: payloadParams.userId,
           userMessageId: payloadParams.userMessageId,
-          mode: 'agent',
+          mode: mode ?? 'agent',
           model: '',
           contexts: payloadParams.contexts,
           mcpServerIds: payloadParams.mcpServerIds,
@@ -961,7 +962,7 @@ async function resolveBranch(params: {
         chatId,
         messageId,
         userTimezone,
-        requestMode: 'agent',
+        requestMode: mode ?? 'agent',
       }),
   }
 }
@@ -1374,6 +1375,7 @@ export async function handleUnifiedChatPost(req: NextRequest) {
       // typed snapshot Go diffs into baseline+delta messages.
       const workspaceContext = workspaceSnapshot?.markdown
       const vfs = workspaceSnapshot?.snapshot
+      const turnContexts = withAskModeContext(agentContexts, body.mode)
 
       executionContext.userPermission = userPermission ?? undefined
 
@@ -1397,7 +1399,7 @@ export async function handleUnifiedChatPost(req: NextRequest) {
                 userId: authenticatedUserId,
                 userMessageId,
                 chatId: actualChatId,
-                contexts: agentContexts,
+                contexts: turnContexts,
                 mcpServerIds,
                 fileAttachments: body.fileAttachments,
                 userPermission: userPermission ?? undefined,
@@ -1425,7 +1427,7 @@ export async function handleUnifiedChatPost(req: NextRequest) {
                 userId: authenticatedUserId,
                 userMessageId,
                 chatId: actualChatId,
-                contexts: agentContexts,
+                contexts: turnContexts,
                 mcpServerIds,
                 fileAttachments: body.fileAttachments,
                 userPermission: userPermission ?? undefined,

apps/sim/lib/copilot/tool-executor/executor.test.ts

@@ -151,6 +151,27 @@ describe('copilot tool executor fallback', () => {
     expect(result).toEqual({ success: true, output: { emails: [] } })
   })
 
+  it('refuses integration tools on an Ask turn without dispatching them', async () => {
+    isKnownTool.mockReturnValue(false)
+    isSimExecuted.mockReturnValue(false)
+
+    const result = await executeTool(
+      'gmail_read',
+      { maxResults: 10 },
+      {
+        userId: 'user-1',
+        workflowId: '',
+        workspaceId: 'ws-1',
+        chatId: 'chat-1',
+        requestMode: 'ask',
+      }
+    )
+
+    expect(executeAppTool).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(result.success).toBe(false)
+    expect(result.error).toContain('Ask mode')
+  })
+
   it('forwards trusted authority and cancellation to dynamic custom tools', async () => {
     isKnownTool.mockReturnValue(false)
     isSimExecuted.mockReturnValue(false)

apps/sim/lib/copilot/tool-executor/executor.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { createLogger } from '@sim/logger'
 import { type PermissionType, permissionSatisfies } from '@sim/platform-authz/workspace'
 import { toError } from '@sim/utils/errors'
+import { ASK_REQUEST_MODE } from '@/lib/copilot/chat/ask-mode'
 import { projectToolErrorMessageForCopilot } from '@/lib/copilot/request/tools/resolved-secret-result'
 import { DEFAULT_EXECUTION_TIMEOUT_MS } from '@/lib/execution/constants'
 import { recordSecretUsage } from '@/lib/secrets/usage/record'
@@ -33,6 +34,10 @@ export function clearHandlers(): void {
   handlerRegistry.clear()
 }
 
+/** An Ask turn answers from the attached knowledge bases; the agent reaches no connected service. */
+const ASK_MODE_INTEGRATION_REFUSAL =
+  'Integration tools are not available in Ask mode. Answer from the attached knowledge bases with the knowledge tool (query operation), cite each source, and say so when nothing relevant is found.'
+
 export async function executeTool(
   toolId: string,
   params: Record<string, unknown>,
@@ -76,6 +81,9 @@ export async function executeTool(
   const canUseRegisteredHandler =
     isKnownTool(toolId) && (isSimExecuted(toolId) || usesHeadlessClientFallback)
   if (!canUseRegisteredHandler) {
+    if (context.requestMode === ASK_REQUEST_MODE) {
+      return { success: false, error: ASK_MODE_INTEGRATION_REFUSAL }
+    }
     const appParams = buildAppToolParams(normalizedParams, context)
     const options = {
       ...(context.resolvedSecretTraceRegistry

apps/sim/lib/core/utils/browser-storage.ts

@@ -4,7 +4,10 @@
  */
 
 import { createLogger } from '@sim/logger'
-import type { FileAttachmentForApi } from '@/app/workspace/[workspaceId]/home/types'
+import type {
+  ChatRequestMode,
+  FileAttachmentForApi,
+} from '@/app/workspace/[workspaceId]/home/types'
 import type { ChatContext } from '@/stores/panel'
 
 const logger = createLogger('BrowserStorage')
@@ -317,6 +320,8 @@ export interface MothershipHandoff {
    * chat and billing a second turn.
    */
   resumeUserMessageId?: string
+  /** The request mode the withdrawn send asked for, so a retry stays the same kind of turn. */
+  requestMode?: ChatRequestMode
 }
 
 interface StoredHandoff extends MothershipHandoff {