Box AI

Tags AI BOXAI

Overview

Box AI is an integrated set of generative AI capabilities built directly into the Box platform, allowing users to extract insights, generate content, and ask questions about files stored in their Box account. It works across Box Notes and many common document types—such as text files, spreadsheets, and presentations—while honoring existing Box permissions and ensuring data privacy. Box provides introductory training resources, including a short video and online support materials, to help users get started.

Details / Instructions

 

How Box AI Works

Box AI behaves differently depending on the type of file you are using:


Box Notes

For Box Notes, Box AI focuses on generating and refining text, such as:

  • Meeting agendas

  • Email templates

  • Project charters

  • Outlines or summaries


Documents (Word, PDF, spreadsheets, presentations, etc.)

For standard documents, Box AI is designed to answer questions about the content.
You can:

  • Query the contents of the file

  • Extract key points or summaries

  • Ask for themes, outlines, or explanations

You may query up to 10 documents simultaneously.
To query more than 10 at once, the files must be stored within a Box Hub.

How to Get Started

  1. Open a document or Box Note in Box.

  2. Click the “Box AI” button at the top of the window.

  3. Enter your question or request in the dialog box that appears.

Common examples include:

  • “Generate a draft outline of this document.”

  • “Summarize the key points.”

  • “Create a meeting agenda template based on this content.”

  • “Draft an email announcement about the topic discussed here.”


Tips for Writing Better Box AI Prompts

Box AI works best with specific, structured prompts. Add context, format requirements, or output preferences.

Below are examples of improved prompts:

Basic Prompt

Improved Prompt

List some ideas on [product]

Create a numbered list of ideas for advertising [product].

What’s the point of this document?

Briefly outline only the most important points in a bulleted list.

Draft an email on [topic]

Draft an outline for an email to my team regarding [topic].

Generate a job description template

Create a template for a software development job posting.

After receiving a response, refine it as needed—good results may take several iterations.
Box provides additional best practices to help maximize the value of your content.


Known Limitations

The initial release of Box AI includes several limitations:


Technical Limits

  • Each Box AI question is limited to 1000 characters.

  • Box AI can process only the first 1MB of text in large documents.

  • Queries against a Box Hub with more than 20,000 items may fail.

  • Non-English languages may yield lower-quality output.


Content-Specific Limitations

Box AI may return mixed or inaccurate results when working with:

  • Calculations and numeric reasoning

  • Table structures and numbers

  • Counting words or phrases

  • Images, videos, charts, or graphs

Security and Privacy

Box AI follows the same permission model as Box itself:

  • It only accesses files you own or already have permission to view.

  • Questions and generated responses stay within the Box AI service and are not shared externally.

  • Additional information on security, architecture, and privacy can be found at:
    https://www.box.com/ai/trust

See Also

 

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