Platform Guide
Knowledge Base
Build an AI-native knowledge base that understands and organizes your information
Understanding AI-Native Knowledge
AI in the Portals platform works using your knowledge. The system is designed around two primary content types that are both readable by AI and automatically indexed within your knowledge system.
📄 Notes (Documents)
Text-based content including PDFs, Word documents, markdown files, and other written materials that form the foundation of your knowledge base.
📊 Tables (Data)
Structured data including spreadsheets, databases, and tabular information that provides context and factual backing to your documents.
Building Your Knowledge Base
1. Upload Your Documents
Start by uploading your existing documents to create the foundation of your knowledge base:
- Drag and drop files directly into your workspace
- Upload PDFs, Word documents, text files, and markdown
- Connect to existing tools and import content
- Organize documents into logical folders and categories
2. Structure Your Data
Add structured data to enhance your AI's understanding:
- Import CSV files and spreadsheets
- Create custom data tables for specific use cases
- Link related documents and data sources
- Maintain data relationships and hierarchies
3. Automatic Indexing
Portals automatically processes and indexes your content:
- AI extracts key concepts and relationships
- Content is semantically indexed for intelligent search
- Cross-references between documents are identified
- Knowledge graphs are built automatically
Best Practices for Organization
🗂️ Logical Structure
Organize content by topic, project, or department. Use consistent naming conventions and folder structures that make sense to both humans and AI.
🏷️ Consistent Tagging
Use tags and metadata consistently across documents. This helps AI understand context and improves search accuracy.
🔄 Regular Updates
Keep your knowledge base current by regularly updating documents and removing outdated information. Fresh content improves AI performance.
Working with the AI Assistant
The AI assistant is available on the right side panel of your notes workspace whenever you have a document selected (not an agent). It provides general-purpose assistance and can:
- Retrieve information from your knowledge base
- Answer questions based on your documents
- Summarize content across multiple sources
- Help you find related information quickly
- Suggest connections between different pieces of content
Supported File Types
Documents
- • PDF files
- • Word documents (.docx)
- • Text files (.txt)
- • Markdown (.md)
Data
- • CSV files
- • Excel spreadsheets
- • JSON data
- • Database exports
Integrations
- • Google Drive
- • Notion databases
- • Confluence pages
- • SharePoint documents
💡 Pro Tip
The quality of your knowledge base directly impacts AI performance. Well-organized, comprehensive content leads to more accurate and helpful AI responses.
Next Steps
Quick Start Guide
New to Portals? Start here to set up your workspace and upload your first documents.
AI Agents Guide
Learn how to create intelligent agents that work with your knowledge base.