# Searching work in plain language (https://docs.akollo.com/en/ai/search)



## What it is [#what-it-is]

On the work search page, you can describe what you are looking for in your own words, for example "my open items in the Onboarding project due this month". Akollo turns the question into ordinary search filters and runs the normal search with your own permissions. You only ever see items you could already find yourself.

<Mermaid
  title="From a question to search results"
  chart="`flowchart LR
A[You write a question] --> B[Personal data is masked]
B --> C[AI turns it into filters]
C --> D[&#x22;Normal search runs with your permissions&#x22;]
D --> E[Results with filter chips]`"
/>

## How to use it [#how-to-use-it]

<Steps>
  <Step>
    ### Open the search [#open-the-search]

    Open **Search** under My work. Or press **⌘K** (**Ctrl K**), type your question and choose **Ask**.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Ask your question [#ask-your-question]

    Write the question in the **Ask in plain language** box and choose **Find**.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Check the filters [#check-the-filters]

    The results appear with the filters your question became, shown as chips, for example "Project: ONB" or "Status: to do".
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Refine the results [#refine-the-results]

    Remove any chip to widen the search, or choose **Clear** to start again. You can keep refining the filters in the search form as usual.
  </Step>
</Steps>

If the question is not clear enough, the box asks you one short question back. If it sounds like a report question ("how many hours did we log last month"), the box points you to the **Ask** page, which answers those.

<Callout type="idea" title="Tip">
  Name the project, the status and a date in one sentence. The more of these your question names, the more chips you get and the fewer results you have to scan.
</Callout>

## What it can filter [#what-it-can-filter]

| Filter                            | Example in a question               |
| --------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- |
| Project                           | "in the Onboarding project"         |
| Status                            | "open", "to do"                     |
| Owner                             | "my items" or "items with no owner" |
| Type, label, priority             | "high-priority bugs"                |
| Words in the title or description | "about the login page"              |
| Due date before or after a day    | "due this month"                    |

Questions about other people's performance, health, personality or intent are not answered.

## Privacy and limits [#privacy-and-limits]

* The question can be up to 500 characters.
* The AI sees only your question and the names of the projects you can open, never the items themselves.
* Personal data in the question is masked before it reaches the model.
* In a support session, the box is not shown.

## FAQ [#faq]

<Accordions type="single">
  <Accordion title="Can plain-language search show items I cannot open?">
    No. Akollo runs the normal search with your own permissions, so you only see items you could already find yourself.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Does the AI read my work items?">
    No. It sees only your question and the names of the projects you can open, never the items themselves.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What if I ask a report question, such as hours logged last month?">
    The box points you to the **Ask** page, which answers report questions.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How long can my question be?">
    Up to 500 characters.
  </Accordion>
</Accordions>

## Related pages [#related-pages]

* [AI assistant](/en/ai/assistant)
* [Tasks and projects](/en/product-guide/tasks-and-projects)
* [What assistance can see](/en/ai/privacy)