What is PIA chat?

PIA, the Productivity Intelligence Aid, is your assistant inside PMI. Use it to understand a view, explore available figures, ask follow-up questions and find PMI guidance. PIA must be enabled for your property; the information and features available depend on your access, the view and the data provided.

Open chat or learning resources

  • PIA avatar: select the avatar to open PIA.
  • Learning resources: opens the Knowledge base from the optional launcher beside the avatar.
  • PIA chat and Knowledge base tabs: switch between your conversation and articles inside the window.
  • Welcome shortcuts: open the Knowledge base, video tutorials or What’s new in PMI.
PIA chat with Brief this view, Knowledge base tab, query library and message field
Start with Brief this view where available, or type your own question. Personal greeting anonymised.

The launcher is off by default. Turn on Show launcher labels in PIA settings to display it. To hide it again, select the eye icon, read the explanation and confirm Hide launcher. The PIA avatar stays available. You can restore the launcher through the same setting.

PIA avatar beside the optional Learning resources launcher and eye icon for hiding the launcher
The optional launcher shows Learning resources and an eye icon. Select the avatar to open PIA.

Briefings and follow-up questions

Choose Brief this view where available to ask PIA to summarise the view you are working in. Offer quick briefings is off by default. If you turn it on in PIA settings, you may receive a briefing invitation on supported views. Check the property, dates and selections before starting.

A briefing gives you an overview to discuss. Continue in chat to ask which figures support an observation, explore a concern or identify the next check. PIA uses the context and information available to it; a briefing does not establish that it has every report or historical record.

Ask a question and add context

  • Message field: type a question and select Send. While PIA is replying, use Stop if you need to interrupt.
  • Query Library: use the book icon beside the message field to browse and insert suggested questions. Check the question and selected period before sending it.
  • Take screenshot: capture the relevant view when the displayed information will help explain your question.
  • Attach a file: use the paperclip for JPG, PNG, CSV, TXT, PDF, XLS or XLSX files, up to 10 MB. State what the attachment contains and what you want PIA to check.

On supported views, PIA can receive PMI data directly. A screenshot is useful when you need to show an additional detail or provide information that is not otherwise available to the conversation.

Read, listen to and use a reply

  • Speaker: reads an individual reply aloud.
  • Source links: open the supporting guidance when links are provided. Not every reply includes a citation.
  • Copy: copies a reply for use elsewhere.
  • Good or bad response: provide feedback; explain any incorrect figure, missing context or misunderstanding.
  • Try again: requests another response. Add clarification if the original question was ambiguous.
  • Export: save the conversation as PDF or Markdown using the available export options.

Set your language, voice and window preferences

Select the cogwheel in the chat header to open PIA settings. Window & invitations and Voice settings appear side by side when space allows and stack on a narrow screen.

PIA settings showing avatar placement, briefing and coaching controls alongside voice settings
PIA settings showing example preferences, not the default configuration. Show launcher labels and Offer quick briefings are off by default.
  • Language: sets the language for reading and new replies.
  • Voice and Preview voice: select an available voice and listen to a sample. Voices are AI-generated.
  • Automatically read new replies: off until enabled. You can still use the speaker on an individual reply.
  • Show launcher labels: off by default. Turn it on to show Learning resources and the eye icon beside the avatar.
  • Offer quick briefings: off by default. Turn it on to receive quick briefing popups. Briefings remain available inside PIA where supported when this is off.
  • Allow moving avatar: when off, the avatar stays in the bottom-right corner as the browser window resizes. Turn it on to drag the avatar. The chat window can always be moved.
  • Enable coaching: off by default. Turn it on to show Coach me in supported views, in popups and the chat banner. Coaching is not yet available in every view.
  • Auto hide: minimises PIA to the avatar when you click outside the window or switch views.
  • Reset position & size: restores the window position and size. You can also use the resize and expand controls to adjust the window.

Your preferences are saved to your PMI account. Existing saved choices are retained, so your settings may differ from the defaults. If a preference cannot be saved, check the message in settings and try again.

Find guidance in the Knowledge base

Search for a PMI term or question in the Knowledge base tab. Use Recommended for guidance related to your current view, or All Topics to browse more broadly. Open an article to read the instructions and follow relevant links.

Get help when a reply is not enough

Clarify the property, department, period and expected result. You can use Contact support to start a support request. Review the confirmation before submitting: the request includes your latest chat history, username, current-view screenshot and property details. Add a short explanation of the issue so the support team can investigate.

For examples of a useful daily conversation, see Mastering PIA Chat for Enhanced Productivity.