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Understanding elvex Assistant Tools

This guide will explain the various assistant tools available, when to enable them, and the pros and cons of each.

Updated over 3 weeks ago

Overview

Choosing which tools to enable for your elvex assistant depends on your specific needs and the tasks you want to accomplish. By understanding the capabilities and limitations of each tool, you can create a customized assistant that best serves your purposes while being aware of potential drawbacks.

Available Tools for elvex Assistants

1. Web Browsing

What it does: Allows the assistant to search the internet and access up-to-date information.

When to enable: Enable this tool when you want your assistant to access to specific websites in order to complete its tasks or to be able to research topics beyond its training data.

When to avoid: Avoid this tool if you are building an assistant who should only reference data that you give it to complete a task. A common example of this is a knowledge base. If you are asking questions and want answers based only on source material, do not enable web browsing.

Pros:

  • Access to real-time information

  • Ability to find answers to a wide range of questions

  • Can provide links and sources for information

Cons:

  • Requires careful prompt engineering to ensure relevant and accurate searches

  • Could lead to information overload for the assistant if not properly managed

2. Data Analysis

What it does: Enables the assistant to perform statistical analysis through SQL queries and create charts.

When to enable: Enable this tool when you need your assistant to handle numerical data, perform calculations, or create visual representations of data.

Pros:

  • Powerful analytical capabilities

  • If the response from the assistant looks inaccurate you can see the formula used to deliver the result

Cons:

  • Potential for misinterpretation of data if not properly guided

3. Drafts

What it does: Allows the assistant to create text documents, code snippets, or other written content that you can version and edit.

When to enable: Enable this tool when you want your assistant to help with writing tasks, formatting documents, or code generation.

Pros:

  • Useful for writing and editing within the elvex interface

  • Can help with formatting and structuring documents

  • Automatically creates versions that can be edited inline, via pre-provided button or further prompts

Cons:

  • Takes the user to a new window to interact with the created content

4. Image Generation

What it does: Enables the assistant to create images based on text descriptions.

When to enable: Enable this tool when you want your assistant to generate visual content or illustrations.

When to avoid: elvex does not support having brand assets as datasources and then use an image generation assistant to generate images based on the datasource.

Pros:

  • Can create custom images on demand

  • Useful for design tasks or visual explanations

Cons:

  • Generated images may not always match expectations

  • Could be resource-intensive

  • Potential copyright or ethical concerns with generated content

5. Sources and Citations

What it does: Allows the assistant to provide references and citations for information it uses.

When to enable: Enable this tool when you need your assistant to provide credible sources for its information or when working on academic or research-related tasks.

Pros:

  • Enhances credibility of information

  • Helps users verify information independently

  • With correct permissions, users can launch into relevant datasources that drove the answer they received

Cons:

  • May slow down the assistant's responses

  • Could be unnecessary for casual conversations or simple tasks

  • Requires careful management to ensure sources are reliable and relevant

  • Users may be shown reference links to datasources they don't have access to

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