# Getting started (/getting-started)



This section takes you from a fresh account to a working assistant on your
website. If you prefer to understand the vocabulary first, read
[Core concepts](/getting-started/core-concepts). If you want to move fast,
follow the path below.

## The quick path [#the-quick-path]

1. **Create an assistant.** Give it a name and a short description. See
   [Create an assistant](/getting-started/create-an-assistant).
2. **Add knowledge.** Point the assistant at a website, upload a few files, or
   write a handful of FAQs. See [Knowledge](/knowledge).
3. **Set how it replies.** Write a welcome message, add starter buttons, and set
   the answering style. See [General settings](/assistants/general-settings).
4. **Add rules if you need them.** Use [Flows](/flows) to control how the
   assistant handles specific kinds of messages.
5. **Set up escalation.** Create a [Help Desk](/help-desks) so visitors can
   reach your team when the assistant cannot help.
6. **Publish.** Copy the embed snippet into your website. See
   [Publishing](/publishing).
7. **Operate.** Read conversations in the [Inbox](/operations/inbox), track
   answer quality with [Improvements](/operations/improvements), and watch
   the numbers in [Insights](/operations/insights).

## How answers are produced [#how-answers-are-produced]

When a visitor sends a message, the assistant does two things. First it decides
which rule applies, using your Flows. Then it runs the actions for that rule. One
of those actions searches your knowledge, finds the most relevant passages, and
writes an answer grounded in them. Every answer that draws on your knowledge can
show its sources, so a visitor can see where the information came from.

If no rule matches, a built in fallback called the Default behavior takes over
and answers from your knowledge. This means an assistant works as soon as it has
knowledge, even before you write a single rule.

## What you need before you start [#what-you-need-before-you-start]

* An organization in Ciele and an account that belongs to it.
* Content the assistant can learn from: a website address, some documents, or
  written answers to common questions.
* Access to your website so you can paste the embed snippet when you publish.