Upload PDFs, DOCx, and more
Most models can now read files directly, so a regular chatbot is all you need. Pick a model that supports files, then tick File Upload in the AI Model section of your chatbot.
A File Uploads section then appears. There, you set how many files can be sent with one message (Max Files) and which file types are accepted (Allowed Mime Types, or click Select to pick them from a list).
The OpenAI Assistants (and their File Search option) were removed from AI Engine in version 3.7.5, after OpenAI shut down the Assistants API. A regular chatbot with File Upload replaces them.
Upload Images
This is the same process as File Upload. The File Uploads section tells you what the selected model accepts: images, documents (PDF, etc.), or both. If it says This model may not support file uploads, pick another model.
Uploaded media have to be stored on your WordPress server first so they can be sent through in the chatbot query. As for replies, if they contain a file or an image, that file also needs to be saved on your server so your users can download it.
You can go to Settings > Files & Media to choose where these files are stored (filesystem or Media Library) and when they expire.
How visitors send a file
Visitors can click the paperclip icon, drag a file onto the chatbot, or simply paste a file (or a screenshot) into the message field. Before they send, the chatbot shows the attached file with its name and a button to remove it.
If an upload fails, the chatbot says why. For example, when the file is too large, it tells the visitor the size limit, and when the type is not allowed, it says so.
Uploaded files stay in the conversation: the visitor can ask more questions about the same file in the next messages, with OpenAI as well as with Claude and other providers.
Upload multiple files
Not all models are compatible with multi-file upload. If not, you will probably get an error if you try to send multiple files in a single query. Go to your chatbot settings, and in the File Uploads section, set Max Files to the maximum number of files that can be uploaded per message (1 means a single file).
