Short answer
You can use the External Knowledge toggle in the chat header to switch between responses based only on your Project data or on both Project and general knowledge. When chatting in Project Only mode, external knowledge is not available.
Full explanation
AskTuring now includes an External Knowledge toggle in every chat, giving you direct control over what the AI can reference when generating answers. It replaces the older “Chat with Project Only” and “Chat with Project + AI” options with a simpler, more visual control.
Here’s how it works:
Look for the toggle switch in the chat window header.
When the toggle is OFF (🔒), the AI uses only your Project’s documents and data. This ensures responses remain secure and based solely on your organization’s materials.
When you turn the toggle ON (🌐), the AI will combine your Project information with its general knowledge, providing broader insights and context.
After you switch modes, the AI clearly confirms which data scope it’s using in its next response.
The toggle setting stays active throughout your chat session until you manually change it again.
If you are chatting in Project Only mode, external knowledge is not available. The AI will rely entirely on your Project’s content for its responses. If external knowledge access becomes temporarily unavailable, AskTuring automatically reverts to Project-only mode and displays an alert.
Tips
Keep the toggle OFF (🔒) for document-focused or confidential work.
Turn it ON (🌐) for open-ended research, creative exploration, or industry context.
Remember: External knowledge is disabled in Project Only chats to maintain privacy and focus.
Examples
A law firm keeps the toggle OFF (🔒) when reviewing client contracts so the AI references only internal legal documents.
A marketing director turns the toggle ON (🌐) to blend brand guidelines with market trend insights for campaign planning.
A university researcher enables External Knowledge to combine institutional data with public academic findings.