Using Tools
Tools extend what the AI can do beyond generating text. When tools are enabled, the model can take actions — such as searching the web, querying a database, or calling an API — and incorporate the results into its response.
What tools are
A tool is a capability the model can choose to invoke when it decides it would help answer your question. For example:
- A web search tool lets the model look up current information
- A file tool lets the model read documents you have access to
- A custom API tool lets the model query an internal system
Your administrator configures which tools are available. Not all OptimaGPT deployments will have tools enabled.
The tool panel
The tool panel appears in the settings panel on the right side of the chat interface. It lists the tools currently available for the conversation, with a toggle next to each one.
You can enable or disable individual tools for the current conversation using these toggles. Disabling a tool prevents the model from calling it, even if it would otherwise choose to.
How the model uses tools
When you send a message, the model decides whether any tools would help it answer better. If it chooses to use a tool:
- An agent run appears in the conversation, showing the tool activity.
- The model calls the tool and waits for the result.
- The result is fed back to the model, which incorporates it into its response.
- The final response appears below the agent run.
The model may use multiple tools in a single response, or call the same tool several times with different inputs.
Reading an agent run
An agent run block summarises what the model did before responding:
| Display | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Thinking... | The model is deciding what to do |
| Using tools (N) | The model is actively calling tools |
| Responding... | The model is generating the final reply |
| Used N tools Xs | The run is complete — N tools were called in X seconds |
Click the agent run block to expand it and see the individual tool calls, including what arguments were passed and what results came back.
For more on how agent run blocks are displayed, see Thinking and Tool Blocks.
Tool availability
Tools visible in the tool panel are enabled for the Chat surface. Your administrator controls which tools are made available here, and whether tools are on or off by default for each surface. If you do not see a tool panel, no tools have been configured for use in OptimaChat.