In a nutshell
Zia brings GenAI-powered assistance directly into Zoho Creator to accelerate app development. Instead of manually designing forms, writing scripts, or defining logic from scratch, you can describe your requirements in natural language. Zia integrates with supported Large Language Model (LLM) providers such as Zoho GenAI, OpenAI, Google and Anthropic. It interprets your intent and helps generate applications, forms, field suggestions, scripts, chat agents and AI agents, and modify application components, simplifying development and minimizing complexity.

Availability

1. Available only in paid plans of Creator.
   
2. The LLM provider configuration can be done by both super admin and admin.
   
3. All the features can be enabled only by super admin except for the Create Applications feature, which can be managed by both the super admin and admins.
   
4. AI Agent feature is supported only with the OpenAI LLM provider.
   
5. Google, Anthropic, and OpenAI LLMs are available in all data centres except CN.
   
6. Zoho GenAI is supported in all data centres except CN, UAE, and SA. In these data centres, AI features can be accessed by integrating Zia with other supported LLM providers.
   

1. Overview

1. The configured Large Language Model (LLM) processes the input.
   
2. Zia applies application metadata such as forms, fields, and relationships to contextualize the response.
   
3. The refined output is presented within Creator for review and implementation.
   

1. Each feature can be mapped to a specific API key of the LLM provider.
   
2. When sending a request to the LLM provider, Zia also sends the mapped API key. The LLM provider uses the API key to authenticate the request and enforce applicable access controls.
   
3. If a key is removed, the supported features mapped to it, will be switched to Zoho GenAI LLM provider.
   

2. Available Zia features in Creator

The following Zia features can be enabled in the Operations module to leverage AI capabilities across your applications.

AI Feature	Description
Create Application	Creates complete Zoho Creator applications from the requirements described in natural language prompts or uploaded documents. It automatically generates forms, reports, workflows, permissions, and blueprints based on your requirements. App Builder offers two modes of development: Plan mode: Creates detailed application development plan and Business Requirement Document (BRD) based on the requirements provided as natural language prompts, which you can review and refine before development. Build mode: Directly generates a working application from natural language requirements, accelerating application development.
Create Form	Creates forms based on the provided natural language descriptions. It also recommends suitable form fields that you can review and modify before generating the form.
Next Field Suggestions	Recommends relevant fields to be added while designing forms. Suggestions are based on the current form structure and the application context.
Deluge Assistance	Generates and modifies Deluge scripts by understanding your requirements through conversational prompts. Deluge assistant can be accessed directly from the Deluge editor within workflows or functions, offering real-time assistance for writing Deluge scripts.
Deluge Zia Task	Offers a Deluge function for invoking LLMs directly from Deluge scripts to perform AI-powered operations. Accepts prompts, supported files, and parameters as inputs and returns the generated response.
AI Agent	Creates autonomous agents that performs multiple complex tasks independently by analyzing a situation and determining the appropriate course of actions. The agent selects and invokes pre-configured Deluge functions (tools), to execute the required actions.
Portal Customization	Customizes portal templates by generating and adding relevant content to the portal pages based on your requirements given as natural language prompts. It also generates initial page layouts based on the uploaded reference images, when creating custom pages for existing portals.
Build Agent	Creates and modifies components such as forms, reports, pages, chat agents and workflows of existing applications using natural language prompts. Build Agent can modify the application both in edit and live modes.
Chat Agent	Creates AI assistants that understands user requests and help users to retrieve information and perform application specific tasks through natural language conversations.

Notes:

1. When a user signs up for the first time, Zia features except AI Agent and Chat Agent are enabled by default and are mapped to use Zoho's native LLM, Zoho GenAI. 
2. The AI Agent feature is only supported with OpenAI LLM provider.
   
3. AI features can be enabled or disabled only by the super admin, except for the Create Applications feature, which can be managed by both the super admin and admin.

3. Configuring Zia

Setting up Zia involves two steps:

1. Configuring an LLM provider that powers Zia's AI capabilities
   
2. Configuring Zia features by enabling or disabling them and selecting an LLM provider for each feature.
   

3.1. Set up an external LLM provider for Zia

Zoho GenAI

OpenAI

Google

Anthropic

Zoho GenAI

Zoho GenAI

Zoho GenAI is Zoho’s in-house LLM and is available by default in Zoho Creator. If you prefer Zoho GenAI as LLM provider for Zia, no additional setup or authentication credentials are required. You can skip directly to the steps to configure Zia.

OpenAI

OpenAI

Info: If you prefer OpenAI as the LLM provider, ensure that you are on a paid plan and have sufficient API credits for your OpenAI API key to work.

Before configuring OpenAI in Zia, create an API key from your OpenAI account for authentication.

Follow these steps to generate the API key:

1. Navigate to Settings in your OpenAI account and select the Billing section.
   
2. Click the Add Payment Details button in the Settings page and add your required details.
   
3. Navigate to the API keys section and click Create new secret key.
   
4. Enter a name (optional) and choose the required project.
   
5. Click Create secret key to generate the key.
   
6. Copy the generated key and use it in the Zia settings in Zoho Creator, if you've selected OpenAI as your LLM provider.
   

Google

Google

Info:

1. If you choose Google as the LLM provider, you must have a Google Cloud project with billing enabled and access to the Gemini API. Since the API is part of Google Cloud services, an active project and billing setup are necessary to manage usage and access generative AI capabilities.
   
2. Verify that the Gemini API has sufficient quota and is available in your region. Refer to the Google AI documentation for details on access limitations.

To use Google with Creator, you’ll need a valid Google Cloud account. To get the Google AI API key:

1. Go to the Google AI Studio.
   
2. Create a new project or select an existing one. Click Get API key in the top menu bar.
   
3. Click +Create API key to generate a new API key. Your existing keys will also be listed in this page.
   
4. Copy the generated key and use it in the Zia settings in Zoho Creator, if you've selected Google as your LLM provider.
   

Anthropic

Anthropic

Info: If you choose Anthropic as the LLM provider, ensure that your account is subscribed to a supported plan with API access. Refer to the Anthropic documentation for API usage limits and billing details. 

To use Anthropic AI models with Zia in Zoho Creator, you must have an Anthropic account with API access and generate an API key.

Follow the steps below to create your Anthropic API key:

1. Sign in to your Anthropic account.
   
2. Click API keys after expanding the left pane.
   
3. Click +Create Key.
   
4. Enter your key name and click Add to continue.
   
5. Copy the generated API key and paste it into the Zia Settings section in Creator when Anthropic is selected as the vendor.
   
   
   

3.2. Steps to configure Zia

1. 
   
   Navigate to Operations in your Creator account.  Click Zia in the Applications card and the Settings screen will appear.
   
2. Select your preferred LLM provider under the LLM Provider tab. You will be taken to the configuration page of the chosen LLM provider.
   
   

• By default, Zoho GenAI is configured and does not require an API key, as it is Zoho's in-house LLM and is available in your Creator account at no additional cost.

• If you prefer to use OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google as the LLM provider, you must generate and add the respective API keys to enable the integration. Explore Set up an external LLM prover for Zia section to understand how to generate API key in each LLM provider. 

  

3. Click Add API Key in the Configuration tab. A popup will appear.
   

4. Enter a Key name and the API Key of your selected LLM provider and click Add. The key name must contain only letters and helps differentiate between keys.
   

• To edit or update the key after adding it, click Edit in the horizontal ellipsis. Modify the key in the pop-up that appears, and click Save.
  

• Click the Manage features to view the features using that particular key.
  

• To remove an API key, click Delete. This removes the configured key from Zoho Creator and the features associated with the deleted key, will be mapped to Zoho GenAI by default. In case of features that don't work with Zoho GenAI, then the mapping should be done manually.
  

Note: Once Zia is configured, Zia features except AI Agent and Chat Agent are enabled by default and are mapped to use Zoho's native LLM, Zoho GenAI.

Zia features can be mapped to use other LLM providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google) by configuring the respective API keys in Zia.

5.  Under the Features tab, you can map each feature with a key and also enable the features for each of them.
    

Note:
- You can add up to five API keys for each LLM provider. 

- On disabling a feature, the LLM provider mapping won't be retained and when re-enabling the feature, it has to be mapped again to a relevant LLM provider.

- Each feature can be mapped to only one key at a time. 

- Zoho GenAI is available by default and does not require an API key. 

4. Manage API usage

Note: When Zoho GenAI is selected as the LLM provider, API usage cannot be monitored because it is an in house LLM and no API usage limits apply.

1. Navigate to Operations in your Creator account and click Zia in the Applications card. The Settings screen will appear.
   
2. Click on the required LLM provider. Switch to the Usage tab and click the button at the center.
   

5. Points to note

1. Zia does not consumes any AI calls or API calls from Zoho Creator. However, API rate limits may still apply. These limits are restrictions that the LLM provider imposes on the number of times a user or client can access their services within a specified period of time and vary based on their usage tier and the model consumed.
2. Rate limits for LLM providers can be found in their respective official documentation.
   

1. OpenAI rate limits
   
2. Google Gemini rate limits
   
3. Anthropic rate limits
   
1. Zoho GenAI LLM consumes Development and Business AI credits when using below mentioned Zia features:
   Development AI credits are consumed when using: Zia App Builder(Plan mode), Build Agent
   Business AI credits are consumed when using: Chat Agent, Deluge Zia task
   
2. When multiple AI features are used in a quick succession, the configured provider's rate limit may be exceeded. This can result in errors or temporary interruption of AI powered functionality.
   For example, if your LLM provider allows 15 requests per minute (RPM) and you attempt to create multiple applications within a short time, the rate limit may be exceeded and trigger an error.

1. Currently, prompts for Zia are supported only in English when Zoho GenAI is selected as the LLM provider. To use other languages, configure Zia with external LLM vendors.
   
2. AI-generated content may contain inaccuracies. Verify that all description prompts are accurate and appropriate before use.
   

1. Zoho Creator constructs prompts based on user input and relevant form metadata to generate contextual responses for AI powered features. All supported GenAI providers, including Zoho GenAI, OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic, are committed to maintaining data privacy.
   
2. It is recommended not to include sensitive or confidential information in prompts while using AI features.
   
3. Zoho GenAI is Zoho's in house LLM and is available at no additional cost. When using Zoho GenAI, your data remains protected within Zoho's ecosystem.
   

6. Related topics

1. Creating applications using Zia App Builder
   
2. Create forms using Zia assistance
   
3. Generate field suggestions for AI assisted forms
   
4. Understanding AI Agent
   
5. Deluge Zia Task
   
6. Configuring next field suggestions