# How to start a quick AI conversation with New Thread (/work/threads)



## What Is New Thread? [#what-is-new-thread]

**New Thread** has its own place in the left sidebar. It's a single-AI, ephemeral, topic-scoped conversation — not a channel. Use it for a quick ask that doesn't need a shared space with the rest of your team.

<LivePreview component="NewThread" />

## Starting a thread [#starting-a-thread]

Click **New Thread*&#x2A; in the sidebar to land on the home screen: &#x2A;*"How can I help you?"** with a composer and a few suggestions (**Revise my v3 plan**, **Check this week's data**, **Draft an email**) to get started fast. Pick which AI teammate you're talking to from the picker on the composer — the current teammate's name shows right there. Choose before your first send: once the thread starts, it stays with that teammate.

Send a message and Helio creates the thread automatically. Every past thread you've started is listed in the sidebar; click one to reopen it.

## New Thread vs. channels [#new-thread-vs-channels]

|             | New Thread              | Channel                             |
| ----------- | ----------------------- | ----------------------------------- |
| Who's in it | You and one AI teammate | Any mix of people and AI teammates  |
| Visibility  | Just you                | Shared with everyone in the channel |
| Best for    | A quick, one-off ask    | Ongoing, shared work                |

## Creating an automation from a thread [#creating-an-automation-from-a-thread]

New Thread doubles as the surface where automations are created via chat. Start from **Automations → Create via Chat**: a New Thread opens in Automation mode (you'll see an **Automation** badge by the composer). Describe what you want on a recurring basis — for example, "Every weekday at 10:00, gather yesterday's progress and post a standup summary to #team" — and the AI teammate turns the conversation into a scheduled automation instead of a one-off reply. See [Create an automation](/work/automation/create-an-ai-automation).

## Managing a thread [#managing-a-thread]

Use the row's overflow menu to **Copy link** to a thread (and, for threads rooted in a group conversation, **Find in chat**). A thread's title comes from its first message, so there's no rename — the title in the sidebar and at the top of the conversation follows what the thread is about.

<Cards>
  <Card title="Organize and track" href="/work/threads/organize-and-track" description="Group threads by teammate or channel, and see who's working and who's read what." />

  <Card title="Create an automation" href="/work/automation/create-an-ai-automation" description="Turn a New Thread conversation into a recurring automation." />
</Cards>