AI Assistants

Treechat includes integrated AI assistants powered by leading language models. You can invoke these AI assistants in conversations using the @@ mention syntax to get help, ask questions, or have deep discussions.

What are AI Assistants?

AI assistants in Treechat are conversational AI models that you can chat with directly in your threads. Unlike Action Tags which generate media content (images, videos, etc.), AI assistants engage in natural language conversations.

How @@ Mentions Work

To start a conversation with an AI assistant, type @@ followed by the model name:

Syntax: @@model_name your question or prompt

Example: @@sonnet explain quantum entanglement

What Happens Next

When you use @@ mentions:

The AI responds in the same thread as a new post
You can continue the conversation naturally by replying
The AI has access to the full conversation history
Multiple back-and-forth exchanges are supported
The AI can reference earlier messages and context

Available AI Models

When you type @@ in a post, Treechat displays an autocomplete menu showing available AI models. The exact list depends on your account configuration and which models are currently enabled.

Recommended Models

For the best conversational experience, we recommend:

Claude Sonnet 4.5 (default) - Excellent balance of intelligence, speed, and conversational ability. Well-suited for complex reasoning, creative tasks, and technical discussions.
GPT-4o - Strong general-purpose reasoning and analysis
GPT-5 - Latest generation with advanced capabilities

The available models may include various options from providers like OpenAI, Anthropic (Claude), Google, and others.

Tip: Type @@ and browse the autocomplete list to see what’s currently available on your account.

Use Cases for AI Assistants

Getting Help and Explanations

Ask the AI to explain complex topics, technical concepts, or help you understand something.

Example: @@sonnet explain how blockchain consensus mechanisms work

Brainstorming and Ideation

Use AI assistants to generate ideas, explore possibilities, or think through problems.

Example: @@gpt-4o help me brainstorm marketing strategies for a new SaaS product

Code and Technical Discussions

Discuss programming problems, get code suggestions, or debug issues.

Example: @@sonnet review this Python function and suggest improvements

Analysis and Research

Ask the AI to analyze information, compare options, or research topics.

Example: @@gpt-5 compare the pros and cons of different database architectures

Creative Writing

Get help with writing, editing, or generating creative content.

Example: @@sonnet help me write a compelling introduction for my blog post about AI ethics

Conversational Context

AI assistants maintain context throughout the conversation thread:

Thread awareness: The AI can reference previous messages in the same thread
Multi-turn dialogues: Have extended back-and-forth conversations
Follow-up questions: Ask clarifying questions or request elaboration
Context building: Earlier messages inform later responses

Example conversation flow:

You: @@sonnet what is machine learning?
AI: [Explains machine learning basics]

You: can you give me an example of supervised learning?
AI: [Provides example, building on earlier explanation]

You: how does that differ from unsupervised learning?
AI: [Explains differences, referencing prior context]

Combining AI Assistants with Other Features

You can use AI assistants alongside other Treechat features:

With Action Tags

Generate content with action tags, then discuss related topics with an AI:

!flux a futuristic city at sunset
[AI generates image]

@@sonnet what are some techniques for creating compelling sci-fi cityscapes?
[AI provides advice on composition and design]

Note: Currently, AI assistants cannot see images or videos in the thread. They can only read text content, so they can discuss concepts, techniques, and ideas, but not analyze specific visual content.

In Public or Private Threads

Use AI assistants in any conversation context:

Private personal brainstorming
Public discussions and debates
Collaborative problem-solving

@@ vs ! (Mentions vs Action Tags)

It’s important to understand the difference:

Feature	@@ AI Assistants	! Action Tags
Purpose	Conversational AI chat	Generate media content
Output	Text responses	Images, videos, audio
Interaction	Multi-turn dialogue	One-time generation
Context	Full thread history	Prompt-based
Use cases	Questions, analysis, discussion	Creative content generation

Use @@ when you want to:

Ask questions
Get explanations
Have conversations
Analyze information
Get advice or suggestions

Use ! when you want to:

Generate images
Create videos
Make music
Edit media
Produce creative content

Tips for Better AI Conversations

Be Specific

Clear, specific questions get better responses than vague ones.

Good: @@sonnet explain the Byzantine Generals Problem in distributed systems Less good: @@sonnet tell me about computers

Provide Context

Give the AI relevant background information when needed.

Example: @@gpt-4o I'm building a React app with TypeScript. How should I structure my component props for a data table?

Ask Follow-up Questions

Don’t hesitate to ask for clarification or more detail.

Examples:

“Can you elaborate on that second point?”
“What are some alternatives to that approach?”
“Can you provide a concrete example?”

Reference Thread History

The AI can see earlier messages, so you can reference them naturally.

Example: “Based on the explanation you gave earlier, how would that apply to my specific use case?”

Experiment with Different Models

Different AI models have different strengths. Try multiple models to find what works best for your needs.

Costs and Billing

AI assistant conversations may have costs associated with them:

Costs vary by model
Charges are typically per message or token usage
Your BSV wallet is used for payment
Public vs private threads may have different pricing

Make sure you have funded your wallet - See Funding Your Wallet for details.

Privacy Considerations

Private Threads

When using AI assistants in private threads:

Only you can see the conversation
Your data is processed by the AI provider
Refer to individual AI provider privacy policies for details

Public Threads

When using AI assistants in public threads:

The entire conversation is publicly visible
Anyone can see your prompts and the AI’s responses
Consider what information you share

Troubleshooting

@@ mention not triggering?

Make sure you typed @@ (two @ symbols)
Check that autocomplete menu appears
Verify you have sufficient BSV balance

AI not responding?

Check if the model is temporarily unavailable
Ensure your prompt is clear and appropriate
Verify your wallet has sufficient funds

Response seems off-topic?

The AI might be using thread context in unexpected ways
Try starting a new thread for unrelated topics
Provide more specific context in your prompt

Next Steps

Action Tags - Generate images, videos, and other media
Funding Your Wallet - Add BSV to use AI assistants
Understanding Upvalue - Earn BSV from your content
Searching Treechat - Find others using AI assistants