How to get started with the new Smartcat AI chat

This is a new way to work in Smartcat — but you can still do everything you are used to. All your existing projects, translation memories, glossaries, project templates, assignment templates, and workflow configurations remain exactly where they are. Nothing has been removed, moved, or changed. The Smartcat AI chat gives you a faster, more intuitive way to access and use all of these capabilities.

The biggest change is that instead of navigating through project creation forms, configuration screens, and multi-step wizards, you now have a conversational chat. You describe what you need, and the system handles the setup and execution.

How to start working

To get started, just describe what you want to do or upload your files in the chat. For example: "translate these files" or "localize a video."

The system will take care of the setup — choose the right workflow, create a project if needed, and either give you the result or guide you to the next step. If more information is needed — like target languages, which template to use, or what quality level you want — the system will ask you directly in the chat before proceeding.

You do not need to learn special commands or a new syntax. Just describe what you need the way you would explain a task to a colleague. The system will interpret your request, match it to the right workflow from your workspace configuration, and proceed.

What happens behind the scenes

When you send a message or upload a file, the system analyzes your request and determines what you are trying to accomplish. It then selects the appropriate workflow based on your content type, workspace configuration, and existing templates. If any required information is missing — target languages, quality settings, or a specific template preference — it asks you. Once everything is confirmed, the workflow launches and runs through all configured steps — translation, review, formatting — automatically.

You see a natural conversation, but behind it is a structured workflow executing reliably using all of your existing settings.

Using shortcuts for a quicker start

If you prefer a quicker start, you can use the shortcuts below — they will kick things off with a pre-configured setup in chat. Shortcuts are entry points for common tasks. When you click a shortcut, it is as if you typed a specific request — the system immediately knows what you want and starts the workflow with the appropriate configuration.

Shortcuts are especially useful when you already know exactly what you want to do and want to skip the conversational step. They use your existing templates and configurations, so the result is identical to describing the task manually — just faster.

Your existing configurations carry over

All of your existing settings are automatically available:

• Project templates are matched to your requests automatically. When you describe a task, the system finds the right template and applies it — the same template you would have selected manually.

• Translation memories and glossaries are applied to every project, using the same matching rules you configured previously.

• Assignment templates define how translators and reviewers are assigned. If you have automatic assignment configured, it works the same way.

• Workflow steps — translation, review, editing, approval — run exactly as defined in your templates. Nothing is skipped or modified unless you explicitly ask.

Staying in control

The system handles setup and coordination, but you are always in control. You can review the workflow selection before it starts, change parameters, switch templates, or adjust settings at any point. Nothing irreversible happens without your confirmation. If something requires your input, the system will always ask before proceeding.