How to Use Ask AI Shortcuts on iPhone
Ask AI shortcuts make it easier to access Chat To Clients CRM's AI assistant directly from your iPhone without navigating through the mobile app. With three dedicated shortcuts—New Chat, Dictation, and Voice Mode—you can quickly start conversations, capture ideas, and interact with Ask AI using your voice. Launch these shortcuts using your iPhone's Action button, Siri, or Spotlight to get assistance whenever you need it.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- What Are Ask AI Shortcuts on iPhone?
- Key Benefits of Ask AI Shortcuts
- Available Ask AI Shortcuts
- Requirements and Availability
- How to Set Up Ask AI Shortcuts Using the iPhone Action Button
- How to Launch Ask AI Shortcuts Using Siri
- How to Access Ask AI Shortcuts Through Spotlight
- Microphone Permissions and Active Sessions
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Articles
What Are Ask AI Shortcuts on iPhone?
Ask AI iOS shortcuts are built-in actions that let you launch specific Ask AI experiences directly from your iPhone. Instead of opening the mobile app and navigating to Ask AI manually, you can use a shortcut to start a new conversation, dictate a message, or begin a voice interaction.
These shortcuts integrate with supported iOS features, including the iPhone Action button, Siri, and Spotlight. Three shortcuts are available:
New Chat: Opens Ask AI and starts a new conversation.
Dictation: Opens a new Ask AI conversation with the microphone activated for spoken input.
Voice Mode: Opens a new Ask AI conversation in Voice Mode for natural, two-way voice interactions.
The shortcuts can launch the mobile app even when it is not already open. Microphone activation remains subject to the required permissions and access checks.
Note: Ask AI iOS shortcuts are different from the existing Ask AI Home Screen Widget and in-app Quick Actions. These features provide additional ways to access Ask AI but have different configurations and available actions.Key Benefits of Ask AI Shortcuts
Ask AI shortcuts reduce the steps required to access AI assistance on your iPhone. Whether you need to capture an idea between meetings, dictate an update, or ask a question while multitasking, these shortcuts help you get started faster.
Instant Access to Ask AI: Open a new Ask AI conversation directly from your iPhone without navigating through multiple app screens.
Faster Voice Interactions: Launch Dictation or Voice Mode with the microphone ready for input, provided the necessary permissions are granted.
Hands-Free Convenience: Use Siri to launch Ask AI shortcuts when tapping through your phone is inconvenient.
Separate Conversations: Start fresh conversations for different questions or tasks without returning to the previous chat.
Flexible Launch Options: Access shortcuts through the Action button, Siri, or Spotlight based on your device and preferences.
Session Protection: Existing voice or dictation sessions are protected from interruption when another shortcut is triggered.
Permission-Based Access: Existing Ask AI access controls and microphone permissions continue to apply when using shortcuts.
How to Set Up Ask AI Shortcuts Using the iPhone Action Button
Assigning an Ask AI shortcut to your iPhone's Action button provides quick access to your preferred interaction. Once configured, pressing and holding the Action button launches the selected shortcut without requiring you to navigate manually through the mobile app.
Follow these steps to configure the Action button:
Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Step 2: Scroll down and select Action Button.
Step 3: Swipe through the available Action button options until you reach Shortcut.
Step 4: Tap Choose a Shortcut to open the shortcut selection interface.
Step 5: Find Chat To Clients CRM, Chat To Clients CRM, or your white-label application's name in the available app shortcuts.
Step 6: Select one of the following shortcuts:
New Chat
Dictation
Voice Mode
Step 7: Return to the Action button settings and confirm that your selected shortcut is assigned.
Step 8: Press and hold the Action button to launch the shortcut. Depending on your selection, Ask AI opens a fresh chat, activates dictation, or starts Voice Mode.
Tip: Choose Dictation or Voice Mode if you regularly use Ask AI through speech. Choose New Chat if you prefer to enter your instructions manually.How to Launch Ask AI Shortcuts Using Siri
Siri provides a voice-based way to launch Ask AI shortcuts without assigning them to the Action button. This is useful when you want to access Ask AI without navigating through your phone's screen.
To launch an Ask AI shortcut through Siri:
Step 1: Confirm that you are using a supported iPhone with iOS 16.6 or later and an eligible version of the mobile app.
Step 2: Activate Siri using your device's supported activation method.
Step 3: Speak the shortcut command using the installed application name.
For example:
New Chat: "Start a new chat in Chat To Clients CRM."
Voice Mode: "Start voice mode in Chat To Clients CRM."
If you are using Chat To Clients CRM or a white-label mobile application, replace Chat To Clients CRM with the appropriate application name.
Step 4: Allow Siri to launch the application and initiate the selected Ask AI experience.
How to Access Ask AI Shortcuts Through Spotlight
Spotlight provides another way to find and launch Ask AI shortcuts directly from your iPhone. This option is helpful when you do not have an Action button or prefer searching for an action instead of navigating through the app. To find Ask AI shortcuts using Spotlight:
Step 1: Open Spotlight Search on your iPhone by swiping down from the middle of the Home Screen.
Step 2: Enter the name of the shortcut you want to launch, such as:
New Chat
Dictation
Voice Mode
Step 3: Find the matching shortcut associated with Chat To Clients CRM, Chat To Clients CRM, or your white-label app in the search results.
Step 4: Tap the matching shortcut to launch Ask AI. The mobile app opens the corresponding Ask AI experience.
Tip: Include your application's name in the Spotlight search if multiple shortcuts or apps have similar names.Microphone Permissions and Active Sessions
Ask AI shortcuts follow existing application permissions and session protections. Understanding these safeguards helps you know what to expect when starting voice interactions or switching between conversations.
Microphone Permissions
Dictation and Voice Mode require microphone access to receive spoken input. If permission has not been granted, the app must complete the applicable permission checks before recording begins.
Important: Using a shortcut does not bypass microphone permission requirements or Ask AI account access controls.Handling Existing Voice or Dictation Sessions
Ask AI shortcuts are designed to preserve active voice and dictation sessions rather than unexpectedly interrupting them. Although shortcuts normally initiate fresh conversations, triggering another shortcut while a voice or dictation session is already running does not interrupt the existing session.
For more information about managing ongoing voice conversations, see How to Use Ask AI Voice Mode.
New Conversations and Chat History
Launching a new Ask AI conversation keeps the new discussion separate from an existing chat. Previous conversations remain available through Ask AI Chat History. Starting a fresh conversation does not mean deleting previous chats or clearing saved Ask AI memory.
For more information, see Ask AI Multi-Threading: Run Multiple Tasks at Once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use Ask AI shortcuts without an iPhone Action button?
Yes. You can launch Ask AI shortcuts using Siri or Spotlight on supported iPhones running iOS 16.6 or later.
Q: Why can't I find Ask AI shortcuts in my iPhone settings?
Confirm that the mobile app is updated to version 4.27.0 or later and that Ask AI is enabled for your account. Check that you are selecting shortcuts from the correct installed application. If you use a white-label app, verify that its installed build supports the feature.
Q: Can I assign all three Ask AI shortcuts to the Action button?
The Action button supports one selected action at a time. You can change which Ask AI shortcut is assigned by returning to Settings → Action Button → Shortcut and selecting a different shortcut. The other shortcuts remain accessible through supported alternative launch methods.
Q: What happens if I launch a shortcut when Chat To Clients CRM is closed?
The shortcut can open the installed mobile app and initiate the selected Ask AI experience, subject to the required authentication, permission, and access checks.
Q: Will starting a new conversation delete my previous Ask AI chats?
No. Starting a new conversation does not delete your previous Ask AI chat history. You can access earlier conversations through Chat History.
Q: Why doesn't Dictation or Voice Mode activate my microphone?
The app may not have permission to access your microphone. Check microphone access in your iPhone settings and verify that Ask AI is available for your account. If another application is using your microphone, check for an audio-input conflict.
Q: Can I use Ask AI shortcuts in a white-label mobile application?
Yes. The feature supports eligible white-label mobile applications running version 4.27.0 or later, provided Ask AI is enabled. The application's name may appear instead of Chat To Clients CRM when selecting or invoking shortcuts.
Q: Are Ask AI iOS shortcuts the same as the Ask AI Home Screen Widget?
No. iOS shortcuts can be launched through the Action button, Siri, or Spotlight and provide New Chat, Dictation, and Voice Mode actions. The Ask AI Home Screen Widget is a separate feature that provides Chat, Voice, and Camera actions directly from the Home Screen.