Chat overview
The assistant panel on the right side of Orion helps you analyze data, edit notebooks, and work with files. This guide covers the basics: picking a model, sending messages, and built-in chat commands.
Open chat
Click the chat icon in the right sidebar. If the panel is collapsed, expand it from the toolbar.
You need at least one provider configured under Settings → Providers before models become available. See API keys and providers.
Choose a model
Use the model picker at the bottom of the chat input. Pinned models from Settings → Models appear first.
If your chosen model is unavailable (missing API key or local server offline), Orion falls back or prompts you to configure the provider.
Interaction modes
Orion supports several modes, selectable near the chat input:
| Mode | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Agent | Full tools: notebook execution, file edits, terminal, sub-agents |
| Research | Beta mode for evidence-driven, notebook-native investigations; hidden from the selector unless enabled in settings |
| Ask | Read-only: inspect and explain, no changes |
| Edit | Edit files and run terminal commands; does not execute notebook cells |
See Agent, Research, Ask, and Edit modes.
Fork a chat
Use the fork action on a past user message when you want to try a different path without losing the original conversation. Orion creates a new chat that keeps the history up to that point. If later agent turns changed files, Orion asks whether to keep your current files or restore recorded edits back to the fork point first.
Send messages and queue
Type a message and press Enter to send. While the agent is working, you can queue another message; it runs when the current turn finishes.
Use @ to attach context (files, cells, variables). See Mentions.
Slash commands
Type / in the chat box to open the command palette. Built-in commands include:
| Command | Purpose |
|---|---|
/compact | Summarize conversation history to free context |
/cost | Show session cost and request totals |
/report-bug | Open GitHub to report an Orion bug |
Workspace skills and sub-agents also appear as /name commands. See Slash commands.
Tool approval
When Settings → Models sets tool approval to Always ask, Orion shows each tool call for approve or deny before it runs. See Tool approval and compaction.
Chat history
Conversations are stored locally in Orion's SQLite database under your Orion data directory (~/.orion/orion.db on macOS/Linux, %USERPROFILE%\.orion\orion.db on Windows).
The assistant can search and summarize past chats when the chat-history built-in skill loads. See Built-in skill: Chat history.
Related
Last updated July 2026.