Skip to main content

How to Set Up and Publish Ask AI (AI Shopper)

Learn how to set up, customize, test, and publish the Ask AI widget for AI Shopper on Shopify or non-Shopify stores

Written by Niezl

Introduction

Ask AI is an AI Shopper widget that lets shoppers ask product-specific questions and get instant AI-powered answers directly on your store. It helps merchants reduce buying hesitation, guide shoppers to the right products, and improve the product page experience.

You can set up Ask AI from your Tolstoy account. Publishing is available for AI Shopper widgets, but usage depends on your AI Shopper credits or package. If your credits run out, AI Shopper widgets may be paused or unpublished until credits are available again.

How to Set Up

  1. Log in to your Tolstoy account

  2. Go to Shopper ➜ Browse features
    ​

  3. Select Ask AI
    ​

  4. In the Content tab, Blacklist by Collection (Add product collections where the widget should not appear) and Show widget in the following templates (Search and select multiple templates where the widget should appear, or manually type template names)
    ​

  5. In the Style tab, customize the Ask AI button:

    • Device settings

    • Header Icon

    • Text

    • Background Colors

    • Text Colors

    • Button Width

    • Button text

    • Shape and Style

    • Font
      ​


      ​

  6. Use the preview to check how the widget will look on your store.
    ​

  7. Open the Test tab to test Ask AI on a product page.
    ​

  8. Open Add Knowledge to manage the knowledge base used by the AI.
    ​

How to Publish

For Shopify Stores

  1. Open the Ask AI widget in Tolstoy and click Publish.
    ​

  2. If prompted, enable the Tolstoy app embed in Shopify.
    ​

  3. Click Add block or Add section. Tolstoy will open Shopify so you can add the Ask AI block to your product page template.
    ​

  4. In Shopify, place the block where you want Ask AI to appear on the product page.

  5. Click Save in Shopify.

  6. Return to Tolstoy.

  7. Check your product page to confirm the Ask AI button appears and works.
    ​

  8. Click It worked in Tolstoy once the widget is live.

For Non-Shopify Stores

  1. Open the Ask AI widget in Tolstoy.

  2. Click Publish.

  3. Copy the Ask AI code snippet.

  4. Add the code to your product page where you want the widget to appear.

  5. Replace PRODUCT_ID with the relevant product ID from your store.

  6. Save the changes on your website.

  7. Visit a product page to confirm Ask AI appears and answers product questions.

Best Practices

  • Test Ask AI on a few product pages before publishing broadly.

  • Keep the button text short and clear, such as “Ask AI” or “Ask a question.”

  • Make sure your product catalog and knowledge base are up to date.

  • Exclude collections where AI assistance is not needed.

  • Review Sessions and Analytics after publishing to understand what shoppers are asking.

Troubleshooting / FAQs

Why isn’t Ask AI showing on my store?
Make sure the widget is published, the Shopify app embed is enabled, and the Ask AI block was added to the correct product page template.

Why is Ask AI not answering correctly?
Check your product data, knowledge base, integrations, and agent settings. Ask AI works best when it has accurate product and store information.

Can I control where Ask AI appears?
Yes. Use the Content tab to manage visibility, block specific collections, or include specific templates.

Does Ask AI work on non-Shopify stores?
Yes. Non-Shopify stores can publish Ask AI by adding the provided code snippet to the product page and passing the correct product ID.

What happens if I run out of AI Shopper credits?
Your AI Shopper widgets may be paused or unpublished until more credits are available.

Can I unpublish Ask AI?
Yes. Open the Ask AI widget, click the publish control, and choose to unpublish it. The widget will no longer be visible on your store.

Did this answer your question?