Work with Charlie

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Open a conversation

Charlie runs in the cloud. On Pro and Max, work you hand it keeps going after you close Char on every device. Press ⌘J on macOS to open Charlie. To ask about a particular page, use Ask Char in that page’s header instead. On platforms with Control shortcuts, use Ctrl+J. Check the context shown in the composer before sending your request. If you want Charlie to work from a page, make sure that page is attached.

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Give a clear request

A useful request includes the source, the job, and the result you want:

Use this project page to draft a five-bullet update for my team. Include progress, blockers, and next steps. Keep it under 150 words and show me the draft here.

Other starting points:

• “Summarize this page and list the decisions that are still open.”
• “Turn these rough thoughts into a checklist. Keep my original meaning.”
• “Compare these two options in a table and explain the tradeoffs.”
• “Find the assumptions in this plan and suggest questions to test them.”

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Continue the same conversation

Follow up when you want to refine the same piece of work:

Make it shorter, remove the introduction, and keep the three unresolved questions.

Start a new conversation when you change topics. A focused chat makes it easier to see which instructions and sources belong to the work.

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Continue work in a Card

On desktop, a chat can appear as a Card on Home or another Page. Click its body or header to open the conversation. Use the composer to ask a follow-up, correct an assumption, or change the requested result. Clicking outside collapses the Card. The Deck keeps chats and other focused items within reach while you work elsewhere. A Card and a Deck entry can refer to the same chat: opening either continues that conversation. Removing a Card from a Page removes that placement; closing a Deck entry, stopping Charlie, archiving a chat, and deleting content are separate actions.

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Answer a Prompt

A Prompt keeps a question or decision beside the work it concerns. Open it to review the details before responding. When several decisions are pending, Char shows one at a time.

• Optional questions let Charlie continue with a stated assumption. Reply when you want to correct or refine it.
• Required questions pause the work that needs your answer, such as choosing an account when Charlie cannot safely infer which one you mean.
• Confirmations ask you to approve a prepared action. Review the destination and content before accepting. The action waits for your response.

You can also use the composer to discuss the proposal or ask for changes. Answering a question does not grant new app access or approve a separate action.

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Work with connected apps

Charlie can use capabilities available in your installed and connected apps. Connect the app first, then be specific about the account, document, or item you mean. Charlie works in one of two modes, set from the composer or Personalization. Ask first, the default, lets Charlie prepare freely and leaves you the final call on critical actions such as sending, publishing, paying, or deleting. Reading never needs a yes. That includes searching the web and reading pages from Charlie’s own search results or links you gave, in your messages or in Pages you referenced. Charlie asks before reading any other web page. Keep going lets Charlie finish the work within the access you granted without asking. For actions outside the page, state your intended boundary: “draft this for review” or “send this exact message to this person.” Review any Confirmation (an approval request) and the final result. An answer saying an action was planned is not evidence that it completed.

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Decide whether to accept a suggestion

A suggested reply, a proposed plan, or a Tidying proposal is an invitation to start or apply work. Keep going does not accept those suggestions for you. Review the suggestion and choose its action when you want to proceed; see Handle an email that needs work. After an action, check its result: for example, a sent message in the connected app, a receipt, or the updated Page. If Char cannot confirm whether an action completed, check the destination before repeating it.

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When the answer is wrong

Point out the mistake and provide the missing fact. Ask Charlie to use a specific source when accuracy matters. You can also change response preferences. If a request fails, read the error before repeating it. A disconnected app, unavailable model, and exhausted usage allowance need different fixes; see Troubleshooting.

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Ask for work later

For reminders and Schedules, see Schedule work. For examples of work to try now, see Everyday workflows.