Your First Chat
You've installed ClawDesk and set up a provider. Let's have your first conversation with AI!
Sending a Message
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Click Chat in the left sidebar (it should already be selected)
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Click in the message box at the bottom of the screen
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Type a message, for example:
What are three fun facts about octopuses?
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Press Enter (or click the send button)
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Watch the AI respond in real time — the text streams in word by word
That's it. You're chatting with AI! ✨
Choosing a Different Model
At the top of the chat, you'll see the name of the AI model you're using (like "claude-sonnet-4-20250514" or "gpt-4o").
To switch models:
- Click the model name at the top of the chat
- A dropdown appears showing all available models from your configured providers
- Click the model you want to use
- Your next message will use the new model
Each model has different strengths:
| Model | Good at | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Sonnet | Writing, analysis, reasoning | Fast |
| Claude Haiku | Quick tasks, simple questions | Very fast |
| GPT-4o | General purpose, coding | Fast |
| Gemini Flash | Quick questions, summarization | Very fast |
| Llama 3 (local) | General purpose, runs offline | Depends on your hardware |
Starting a New Conversation
Each conversation in ClawDesk is a separate chat thread.
- To start a new chat, click the "+" button at the top of the chat area
- Your previous chats are saved and you can go back to them anytime
Useful Chat Features
Attach Files
You can attach files to your messages for the AI to read or analyze:
- Click the attachment icon (paperclip) in the message box
- Select a file from your computer
- The AI will be able to see and discuss the file's contents
Voice Input
- Click the microphone icon in the message box
- Speak your message
- ClawDesk converts your speech to text and sends it
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Enter | Send message |
| Shift + Enter | New line (without sending) |
| Ctrl/Cmd + N | New chat |
| Ctrl/Cmd + L | Clear current chat |
Understanding AI Responses
When the AI responds, you might notice a few things:
- Streaming — The response appears word by word, not all at once. This is normal!
- Tool calls — Sometimes the AI uses tools (like searching the web or reading a file). You'll see a small indicator when this happens.
- Markdown formatting — Responses may include bold text, bullet points, code blocks, and more. This is the AI formatting its answer for readability.
Tips for Better Conversations
- Be specific — Instead of "tell me about dogs," try "What are the 5 most popular dog breeds for apartment living, and why?"
- Give context — "I'm writing an email to my boss about being late. Help me phrase it professionally."
- Ask follow-ups — The AI remembers the conversation. You can say "make it shorter" or "can you explain that differently?"
- Use different models — Some models are better at certain tasks. Try Claude for writing, GPT-4o for coding, Gemini Flash for quick answers.
What's Next?
Now that you know how to chat, explore more features:
- Chatting with AI → — Advanced chat features, side panels, and more
- Creating Agents → — Build specialized AI assistants
- Setting Up Providers → — Add more AI providers to get more models
- Running AI Locally → — Chat with AI offline