AI Writing Assistant

Intro

AI writing assistant quickly and seamlessly edits text in text input fields via provided prompts in a panel, allowing users to refine their input and complete writing tasks with efficiency.

Tapping “Writing Assistant” opens the AI writing assistant panel

Usage

Do

  • Use AI writing assistant for repetitive text writing and editing tasks.
  • Use AI writing assistant to spark creativity with diverse outputs.
  • Use AI writing assistant to enhance and accelerate text iteration and refinement.

Don't

  • Don’t use AI writing assistant for non-text editing tasks.
  • Don’t use AI writing assistant for customized outputs. Instead, use guided prompts, custom prompts, or Joule.
  • Don’t use AI writing assistant where AI-assisted editing adds no value. For example:
    • Pre-populated fields with confident AI recommendations
    • Unpredictable user intent
    • Lack of context or data for high-quality results
  • Use an AI notice when there are AI-generated text fields.
  • Prioritize value and performance:
    • Use the AI writing assistant on text fields that benefit from creative or iterative suggestions.
    • Coordinate with your product team to limit AI prompts based on user needs and subscription costs.
    • Use a character limit as a parameter for text generation to reduce subscription costs and improve outputs.

Anatomy

A. Entry Point

The “Writing Assistant” button opens the AI writing assistant panel for the selected text input.

B. Text Input Field

Allows the user to enter text, with all text updates made by the AI writing assistant immediately reflected within the input field.

Unless the user selects a portion of the text prior to opening the AI writing assistant, the entire text content will be updated by default.

Updated text is highlighted in blue after each writing assistant edit.

C. Panel Navigation Bar

Includes the “Cancel” and “Done” buttons that allow the user to exit the AI writing assistant without saving or saving any updates.

The version annotation (“Version 2/2”) updates with every text edit.

D. “Undo” and “Redo” Buttons

Allows the user to undo or redo text edits. If there are no previous versions, the “Undo” button is disabled. Similarly, if the user is on the most recent text version, the “Redo” button is disabled.

E. Quick Prompts

Quick prompts immediately update the text within the text field. Icons are optional but must be consistently used and aligned across apps.

F. Prompt Groups

Prompt groups include a list of quick prompts.

G. Feedback

Allows the user to provide feedback for every text enhancement.

AI writing assistant anatomy

Behavior and Interaction

Opening and Exiting AI Writing Assistant

Tapping the “Writing Assistant” button above the keyboard opens the AI writing assistant panel.

If the user hasn’t yet edited the text content using the AI writing assistant, they may immediately close the panel by tapping the “x” button.

User opens AI writing assistant and taps quick prompt to update text

After making the first text update, the panel navigation changes to “Cancel” and “Done.” Tapping “Done” saves the latest text content and closes the AI writing assistant. Tapping “Cancel” prompts the user with a confirmation dialog. The user may continue closing the AI writing assistant, losing any text updates, or choose to keep working.

Tapping ”Cancel” opens a confirmation dialog

Interacting with Elements Outside AI Writing Assistant

The user may scroll behind the AI writing assistant panel. If they tap on another text field or any interactive element behind the panel, they’re prompted by a confirmation dialog.

Text Editing

Tapping a quick prompt immediately updates the text content inside the input field. While the text is updating, the user can’t interact with the AI writing assistant panel.

Tapping a prompt group pushes to a list of quick prompts.

Tapping “Change Tone” pushes to a list of quick prompts

Versioning

Once the user makes their first text edit by tapping a quick prompt, the panel navigation buttons update to “Cancel” and “Done.” The version annotation (“Version 2/2”) also appears below the navigation bar title.

As the user continues to make edits, the version number updates accordingly. Every quick prompt selection leads to a new version.

Tapping quick prompt leads to an updated version

If the user taps “Undo,” reverts to a previous version, and selects another quick prompt, the updated text replaces any subsequent versions.

Tapping “Undo” displays “Version 2/3” and tapping quick prompt leads to new “Version 3/3”

Feedback

After each text update via quick prompt selection, the user may provide feedback about the output. Tapping the thumbs-up icon submits immediate positive feedback.

Tapping thumbs-up immediately submits positive feedback

Tapping the thumbs-down icon takes the user to additional feedback options that the user may optionally select before submission.

Tapping thumbs-down leads to additional feedback options

Variations

Quick Prompts and Prompt Groups

Quick prompts and prompts are customizable. They can also be grouped together as needed in the AI writing assistant panel.

Ensure that accessibility labels and groups are properly considered when customizing the panel layout.

Text Strings

Use concise and self-explanatory text strings for quick prompts and prompt groups.

A quick prompt text string communicates an immediate action that acts upon the text content.

A prompt group text string represents a category of quick prompts that is displayed upon tapping.

Left to right: example panel, placeholder panel

Iconography

A prompt group is always accompanied by a disclosure icon to indicate that there are additional options upon tapping.

A quick prompt icon is optional and visually represents the quick prompt action. When there isn’t a suitable icon for a quick prompt, omit the icon so as not to confuse the user. Quick prompt icons should be used consistently: either pair all quick prompts with icons or omit icons completely. Additionally, where possible, icon usage should be aligned across all SAP applications.

Prompt groups always have a disclosure icon

Pair icons with all quick prompts or omit them completely

Terminology

To ensure a consistent user experience, we recommend using the suggested wording.

Label for Menu Items
Text for Performed AI Prompt
Description
Generate
Generated Text
Create first text version
Regenerate
Regenerated Text
Regenerate the text using the same prompt
Fix Spelling and Grammar
Fixed Spelling and Grammar
Correct errors in spelling and grammar
Rewrite Text
** choose performed AI prompt for applied submenu action
Change the structure of the text
Adjust Length
** choose performed AI prompt for applied submenu action
Adjust the length of the text
Make Bulleted List
Made Bulleted List
Organize information into a list
Change Tone
** choose performed AI prompt for applied submenu action
Adjust the style or emotional quality of the text
Translate
Translated to < Language # >
Convert text from one language to another
Menu Items with Submenu
Labels for Submenu Items
Text for Performed AI Prompt
Description
Rewrite Text
Simplify
Simplified Text
Make text easier to understand
Expand
Expanded Text
Elaborate on the content, providing more detail or depth
Summarize
Summarized Text
Condense information while retaining the key points
Change Tone
Make More Casual
Made More Casual
Make text less formal
Make More Professional
Made More Professional
Make text more formal
Adjust Length
Make Shorter
Shortened Text
Reduce the length of the text
Make Longer
Lengthened Text
Increase the length of the text
Translate
Language 1
Translated to < Language 1 >
Translate text into the selected language
Language 2
Translated to < Language 2 >
Translate text into the selected language

For prompts not covered above, apply the following guidelines:

  • Use an imperative verb.
  • Keep AI action labels as short and clear as possible while prioritizing clarity for users.
  • Use the same AI action labels consistently.

Adaptive Design

AI writing assistant is available in compact and regular size classes. In the regular size class, it is displayed as a popover. Following iPad’s native system behavior, text highlight is non-interactive while the writing assistant popover is open.

AI writing assistant in iPad popover

Resources

Development: waTextInput, waResult, waFeedbackResult, waHelperAction

SAP Fiori for Android: AI Writing Assistant

SAP Fiori for Web: AI Writing Assistant