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Overview

The chat widget comes with several interactive features designed to create an engaging and accessible experience for your website visitors. These features work together to provide a conversational AI experience that feels natural and intuitive.

Audio Responses

Text-to-speech capability with lip-synced avatar animations.

Language Switching

Real-time language switching with automatic translation.

Conversation Reset

Start fresh conversations with a single click.

3D Avatar

Interactive animated character for visual engagement.

Audio Responses (Text-to-Speech)

The chat widget can speak AI responses aloud using text-to-speech technology, creating a more engaging and accessible experience. When enabled, the 3D avatar animates with lip-sync movements that match the spoken audio.

How Audio Works

When the avatar panel is open and audio is enabled:
  1. The AI generates a text response to your visitor’s question
  2. The response is sent to the TTS (text-to-speech) service
  3. Audio is synthesized and played back through the browser
  4. The 3D avatar lip-syncs to the audio in real-time
Audio playback only triggers when the avatar panel is visible. If the panel is closed or showing the language selector, responses remain text-only.

Supported TTS Providers

The widget supports two text-to-speech providers:
ProviderDescription
Microsoft AzureHigh-quality neural voices with extensive language support and viseme data for lip-sync
ElevenLabsPremium AI voices with natural intonation and expressive speech

Audio Controls

Audio behavior is controlled at the widget level:
  • Avatar Panel Toggle - When the avatar panel is open, audio plays automatically for new responses
  • Stop Speaking - Closing the avatar panel or starting a new message stops any ongoing audio
  • Mobile Behavior - Audio is disabled on mobile devices to optimize the experience
Configure TTS settings for each supported language in your agent settings. Different languages can use different voices or even different providers for optimal pronunciation.

Language Switching

The chat widget supports real-time language switching, allowing visitors to interact in their preferred language. This feature provides automatic translation of the interface and AI responses.

Accessing the Language Selector

On Desktop:
  1. Click the flag icon in the chat header
  2. The language panel opens alongside the chat
  3. Select your preferred language from the list
  4. The panel automatically closes after selection
On Mobile:
  1. Tap the flag icon in the chat header
  2. The language list displays full-screen
  3. Select your preferred language
  4. You’re returned to the chat view

What Gets Translated

When a visitor switches languages:
ElementTranslation Behavior
Welcome MessageAutomatically translated to the new language
Suggested QuestionsTranslated to help visitors discover topics
Interface TextButtons, placeholders, and labels update instantly
AI ResponsesFuture responses come in the selected language
System MessagesLanguage change confirmation appears in the new language
Previous conversation messages remain in their original language. Only new messages and the welcome message are translated when switching languages.

Language Persistence

The widget remembers your visitor’s language preference:
1

Initial Load

Widget detects browser language and uses it if enabled, otherwise uses the default.
2

Manual Selection

When a visitor selects a language, it’s saved to browser storage.
3

Return Visits

On subsequent visits, the widget loads with the previously selected language.

Configuring Available Languages

Control which languages appear in the selector through your agent’s Localization settings:
  • Enable/Disable Languages - Choose which languages to offer
  • Set Default Language - Configure the fallback for unsupported browser languages
  • Exclude Languages - Remove specific languages from the selector entirely
If only one language is enabled, the language button is hidden from the widget header to avoid confusion.

Conversation Reset

The reset feature allows visitors to start a fresh conversation at any time. This clears the current chat history and displays a new welcome message.

Using the Reset Feature

  1. Click the rotate/refresh icon in the chat header
  2. The conversation is immediately cleared
  3. A new welcome message appears
  4. The visitor can start asking new questions

What Reset Does

ActionBehavior
MessagesAll chat messages are cleared from the widget
Session IDA new session identifier is generated
Thread IDThe conversation thread is reset for fresh context
Avatar StateAny ongoing speech is stopped
Input FieldAny typed text is cleared
Welcome MessageA fresh welcome message is displayed
The reset feature is useful when visitors want to change topics entirely or if they’ve encountered an issue and want to start over with a clean slate.

When to Use Reset

Encourage visitors to use reset when:
  • They want to ask about a completely different topic
  • The conversation has gone off-track
  • They want to see the suggested questions again
  • They’re testing different queries

3D Avatar Panel

The avatar panel provides a visual companion for conversations. A 3D animated character responds to interactions, creating a more personal and engaging experience.

Avatar Panel Layout

Desktop View:
  • The avatar panel appears alongside the chat area
  • Both panels are visible simultaneously (800px total width)
  • The avatar animates while speaking
  • Toggle visibility with the bot icon in the header
Mobile View:
  • The avatar panel is not available on mobile
  • Mobile users get the full chat experience without the avatar
  • This optimizes performance and screen real estate

Avatar States

StateDescription
IdleAvatar displays a neutral, ready state
LoadingProgress indicator shows while avatar assets load
SpeakingAvatar lip-syncs to audio with natural animations
ErrorFallback state if avatar fails to load

Avatar Loading

The 3D avatar requires loading assets (GLB models, animations) when the chat opens:
1

Chat Opens

Widget opens and begins loading avatar assets in the background.
2

Progress Display

A loading indicator shows progress (0-100%).
3

Ready State

Once loaded, the avatar displays in idle state.
4

Cached

Subsequent visits load faster due to browser caching.
Avatar assets are only loaded when the chat widget is opened, not when the page loads. This prevents unnecessary bandwidth usage for visitors who don’t use the chat.

Controlling the Avatar Panel

Show/Hide Toggle:
  • Click the bot icon in the header to toggle the avatar panel
  • When visible: Bot icon appears with a subtle highlight
  • When hidden: BotOff icon indicates the panel is collapsed
Panel Interactions:
  • Closing the panel stops any ongoing audio
  • Switching to language view also stops audio
  • The panel state persists during the session

Feature Comparison by Device

Different features are available depending on the device:
FeatureDesktopMobile
Chat InterfaceYesYes
Avatar PanelYesNo
Audio/TTSYes (when panel open)No
Language SwitchingSide panelFull-screen view
Reset ConversationYesYes
Close ButtonIn headerIn header

Best Practices

  • Configure TTS voices that match your brand personality
  • Set up language-specific voices for natural pronunciation
  • Test audio in all enabled languages before deploying
  • Only enable languages your knowledge base can support well
  • Test AI responses in each enabled language
  • Consider regional variations (e.g., Brazilian Portuguese vs. European Portuguese)
  • Choose an avatar that represents your brand appropriately
  • Consider the avatar’s appearance for your target audience
  • Test avatar loading performance on slower connections
  • Test the chat experience on various mobile devices
  • Verify language switching works smoothly on touchscreens
  • Ensure the close button is easily accessible

Next Steps