Chat with everything in a Space

Every Space (folder) has its own AI chat scoped to the recordings inside it. Ask about a project, a client, or a recurring meeting series and the answer draws only on that folder's conversations — nothing outside it.

How do I start a folder chat?

Open the Space and start typing, or use the chat entry point:

• On iOS and Android — open the folder and choose Ask this folder. The thread is labelled Chat focused on this folder.
• On the web — open the Space; the chat panel prompts Ask anything about this folder with the composer placeholder Ask anything about this folder…. Starters like Summarize this folder get you moving.

An empty folder can't chat — you'll see a prompt to add recordings first ("Add recordings from your library to start chatting with this folder."). See Move recordings between Spaces.

What does the chat know?

The transcripts and notes of every recording currently in the Space, including recordings other members added. That scope is the point: a folder for your weekly team meeting can answer "what did we decide about the launch date across the last month" without you picking which meeting to ask.

Answers cite which recordings they drew from, and adding or removing recordings changes what future answers can see.

Is my chat history visible to other members?

No. In a shared Space, every member chats over the same recordings, but each member's chat history is their own — other members can't read your questions or the answers you received. Sharing the Space shares the content, not your conversations about it.

How is this different from Ask?

The global Ask searches everything you have access to and cites sources; folder chat is deliberately narrower. Use folder chat when you already know the context ("this client"), and Ask when you don't remember where something was said.

What does folder chat cost?

Messages use the same AI chat allowance as every Canto chat — 500 / mo on the free plan. Chatting in a Space that someone shared with you doesn't count against your own allowance.

Troubleshooting

The chat doesn't know about a recording I can see

The recording may still be transcribing or indexing — folder chat only reads recordings whose AI processing has finished. Open the recording and check its status; Preparing AI for this recording… means wait a minute and ask again.

I lost access to the folder mid-chat

If the owner stops sharing the Space, the chat goes with it — you'll see that the folder is no longer shared with you. Recordings you contributed remain in the folder; see Share a Space with others.