Table of Contents
Bring current web results and your Microsoft 365 files into CometAI conversations and assistants - here's what's available and how to set it up.
CometAI is UT Dallas's secure generative AI platform designed to support faculty and staff in research, teaching, and project management. Connectors extend what CometAI can reference when it responds.
With WebSearch, CometAI can look up current information on the internet and show the sources it used. With OneDrive and SharePoint, you can attach your Microsoft 365 files to a conversation or an assistant without downloading them first.
At a Glance
| WebSearch |
Microsoft OneDrive |
Microsoft SharePoint |
Coming Soon |
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Pull current information from the web, with links to every source used.
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Attach Word, PDF, and other documents from your OneDrive to chats and assistants.
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Bring shared files from SharePoint sites and libraries into a conversation or assistant.
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Outlook, Teams, Box App, and Canvas LMS connectors are on the way!
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Connectors are designed so that you decide what CometAI can reach and when.
- Your permissions apply - CometAI can only access files you already have permission to use in Microsoft 365.
- It acts when you ask - CometAI only works with your connected files when you request it.
- You choose what's on - Turn Web Search ON or OFF for individual conversations, and connect each Microsoft service separately.
- Sources are visible - Web results used in a response are listed in the Sources bar so you can review them directly.
When enabled, CometAI can search the web for information related to your prompt and incorporate relevant findings into its response. Sources used during the search are displayed alongside responses, allowing you to review the referenced websites directly.
Key Features
- Access current information - Retrieve information from the web when responding to prompts that require recent or time-sensitive information.
- Source attribution - View links to websites and sources used in generating responses.
- Conversation-level control- Enable or Disable Web Search for individual conversations as needed.
- Integrated experience - Search results are automatically incorporated into responses without leaving CometAI.
Common Use Cases
- Finding recent news and announcements
- Researching current events and developing topics
- Verifying recent changes to policies, procedures, or regulations
- Comparing information from multiple online sources
- Gathering supporting references for academic, research, or professional work
- Go to User Menu > Settings.
- Navigate to the Configurations tab and scroll down to Features.
- Enable Web Search.
- Save the settings.
- Configurations tab in Settings
- Web Search checkbox under Features — check it to enable the feature
- Save — saves your settings
- Required: Enable the Web Search toggle in the Plugin selector bubble in the chat interface.
- Required: Enable the green Web Search icon underneath the conversation bar.
- Web Search toggle in the Plugin selector - turn it on
- Web Search icon below the conversation bar - it turns to green when Web Search is active
Both chat-level Steps are Required: Turning Web Search ON in Settings makes the feature available.
Complete all of the steps above to enable Web Search, then ask a prompt such as:
- Example Prompt: "Use web search to find the latest OpenAI news from the past 7 days. Return exactly 5 articles with: 1) headline 2) source name 3) publication date 4) direct URL"
- You can view the sources and hyperlinks of the retrieved websites in the Sources bar in each conversation.
- Sources - expand this section below a response to see what was used.
- Web Search - lists the websites retrieved for this response, with links.
- Complete all of the steps above to enable Web Search in conversations.
- Select an assistant using @ from the chat bar.
- Or from the Assistants tab and then the drop-down menu.
Disclaimer: CometAI Web Search uses the Brave Web Search API on the back end. The CometAI Web Search endpoint also follows a Zero Data Retention policy. Adding your own API keys for Web Search is currently disabled. For more detail, see the full article:
WebSearch in CometAI.
The Microsoft 365 integration allows CometAI to work with your Microsoft account services, such as OneDrive and SharePoint, directly inside conversations and assistants. Once connected, you can attach files from OneDrive or SharePoint and ask CometAI to summarize them or generate content from them. CometAI only acts when you request it, and it stays within your existing Microsoft 365 permissions.
Key Features
- Connect Microsoft drive services- Link OneDrive and SharePoint from Integrations.
- Browse and attach files- Open OneDrive or SharePoint from the Files picker and attach documents to chat.
- Use files with assistants- Attach drive files as assistant data sources.
- Permission-based access- CometAI can only access files you already have permission to use in Microsoft 365.
Common Use Cases
- Attaching Word, PDF, or other documents stored in OneDrive
- Pulling shared files from SharePoint sites and libraries into chat
- Asking questions about project docs, reports, or meeting notes
- Adding drive files to an assistant for repeated use
- Working with team documents already stored in Microsoft 365
- Go to the Settings tab (paintbrush icon) on the left-hand sidebar.
- Click the Integrations tab.
- Select Microsoft on the top bar under Integrations.
- Click Connect for Microsoft OneDrive and Microsoft SharePoint.
- A pop-up window will appear.
- When you see "Authentication Successful".
- Click Close and then Ok at the bottom right corner.
- Microsoft tab under Integrations.
- Microsoft OneDrive — click Connect on the right; a Connected badge appears once linked.
- Microsoft SharePoint — click Connect on the right; a Connected badge appears once linked.
Only Connect OneDrive and SharePoint: Connecting Google Apps or any Microsoft 365 application other than OneDrive and SharePoint may result in authentication errors or requests for additional approval. Such approval requests are not supported and will be rejected.
- Make sure OneDrive and/or SharePoint are connected.
- In the chat bar, open the Files picker.
- From the left menu, select OneDrive or SharePoint.
- Browse to the file you need and attach it.
- For SharePoint, open the site > library or folder > select the file.
- Ask a prompt about the attached file.
- Example Prompt: "Summarize the key points in this document and list any action items."
- OneDrive in the Files picker's left menu (SharePoint is just above it).
- Click a file to attach it to the conversation.
- The attached file appears above the chat bar.
- Connect OneDrive and/or SharePoint using the steps above.
- Create or edit an assistant and open Attach Drive Data Sources.
- Select OneDrive or SharePoint from Microsoft.
- Choose the files to attach.
- They will appear under the Attach Drive Data Sources tab.
- Select the assistant with @ in the chat bar (or from Assistants).
- Ask your question.
- Attach Drive Data Sources section in the assistant editor
- Select Service — choose OneDrive or SharePoint
- Check the files you want to attach
- Attached files are summarized here (e.g., "SharePoint: 2 Files")
- Save the assistant
More connectors are on the way:
- Outlook
- Teams
- Box App
- Canvas LMS
- Other M365 Apps
Come back & review this article for more information on latest connectors.