Your First Chat
Learn how to use the Elyxir Studio chat interface and interact with AI models.
The Elyxir Studio chat interface provides a powerful way to interact with AI models directly in your browser. This guide walks you through your first conversation.
Accessing Studio Chat
- Sign in to studio.elyxir.ai
- Select your organization from the dropdown
- Click Studio in the main navigation
The Chat Interface
The Studio chat interface consists of:
- Message Input: Type your prompts at the bottom of the screen
- Conversation History: View past messages in the main area
- Model Indicator: See which model is responding to your request
- Settings Panel: Configure model preferences and options
Starting a Conversation
- Click in the message input field
- Type your message or question
- Press Enter or click the send button
By default, Alvin (Elyxir's intelligent routing system) automatically selects the best model for your request. You can also manually select a specific model.
Understanding Alvin Routing
Alvin analyzes your prompt and routes it to the optimal AI model based on:
- Task Type: Code generation, creative writing, analysis, etc.
- Complexity: Simple queries vs. complex reasoning tasks
- Context Length: Short vs. long conversations
- Cost Efficiency: Balancing quality with cost
When Alvin routes your request, you'll see which model was selected in the response header.
Selecting a Specific Model
To use a specific model instead of Alvin's automatic selection:
- Click the Model dropdown in the chat settings
- Browse or search for your preferred model
- Select the model (e.g., "GPT-4o", "Claude 3.5 Sonnet")
- Your next message will use that model
Chat Features
Multi-turn Conversations
Continue the conversation naturally - the AI remembers previous messages:
You: What is TypeScript?
AI: TypeScript is a typed superset of JavaScript...
You: How do I install it?
AI: You can install TypeScript using npm...
Web Search Integration
Some models support real-time web search:
- Enable Web Search in the chat settings
- Ask questions that require current information
- The AI will search the web and cite sources
Web search is automatically available when using Alvin routing. For specific models, check if they support web search in the Model Hub.
Code Highlighting
Code in responses is automatically syntax-highlighted:
function greet(name) {
return `Hello, ${name}!`;
}Chat Settings
Access settings via the gear icon or settings panel:
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Model | Select a specific model or use Alvin routing |
| Temperature | Control response creativity (0-1) |
| Max Tokens | Limit response length |
| Web Search | Enable real-time web search |
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Enter | Send message |
Shift + Enter | New line in message |
Ctrl/Cmd + K | Open model selector |
Esc | Close dialogs |
Managing Conversations
New Conversation
Click New Chat or use the keyboard shortcut to start fresh.
Conversation History
Access previous conversations from the sidebar. Conversations are saved automatically.
Exporting Chats
Export your conversation for reference:
- Click the menu icon on a conversation
- Select Export
- Choose your format (Markdown, JSON)
Tips for Better Results
- Be specific: Clear, detailed prompts get better responses
- Provide context: Include relevant background information
- Iterate: Refine your prompt based on responses
- Use system prompts: Set the AI's behavior for the conversation
Example Prompts
Code Help
Write a Python function that validates email addresses using regex. Include error handling and docstrings.
Analysis
Analyze the pros and cons of microservices vs monolithic architecture for a startup with 5 developers.
Creative Writing
Write a professional email declining a meeting request while suggesting an alternative time.
Next Steps
- Alvin Routing - Learn more about intelligent routing
- Model Hub - Explore available models
- Virtual Keys - Manage API access