# How to Manage Fastio Intelligence Mode via API

Managing Fastio intelligence mode via API adds RAG capabilities to workspaces. Enable it with one PATCH request to auto-index files for semantic search and AI chat. Files gain summaries and become queryable across folders with citations. This turns storage into a knowledge base without vector DB setup.

Other platforms need complex pipelines. Fastio handles ingestion out of the box. Follow these steps for API control, verification, and troubleshooting.


Source: https://fast.io/resources/managing-fastio-intelligence-mode-api/
Last reviewed: 2026-02-24

## What is Fastio Intelligence Mode?

Fastio Intelligence Mode automatically indexes workspace files for semantic search, accessible directly via the API.

When enabled on a workspace, uploads trigger background processing. Documents and code get text extraction, chunking, embedding, and summarization. Files reach "ready" state for RAG queries.

Key capabilities include natural language search like "Q3 contracts with Acme" and chat across folders with source citations. It works across workspaces once Intelligence is enabled.

Competitors require Pinecone or custom DBs. Fastio bundles it as a toggle, saving setup time.

Check [Fastio AI docs](https://docs.fast.io/reference/api-reference/ai.html) for chat endpoints.

## Prerequisites for API Management

Sign up at Fastio and start a 14-day Business Trial. Generate an API key at Settings > API Keys.

Authenticate requests with `Authorization: Bearer {token}`. Base URL: `https://api.fast.io/current/`.

Create a test workspace:

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.fast.io/current/org/{org_id}/workspaces/" \\
  -H "Authorization: Bearer {token}" \\
  -d "folder_name=test-ws" \\
  -d "name=Test Intelligence Workspace"
```

Note the `profile_id`. Use it for updates.

## Enable Intelligence Mode

Use PATCH to toggle:

```bash
curl -X PATCH "https://api.fast.io/current/workspaces/{ws_id}/" \\
  -H "Authorization: Bearer {token}" \\
  -d "intelligence=true"
```

Response confirms `"intelligence": true`. Existing files reprocess asynchronously.

JavaScript fetch example:

```js
await fetch(`https://api.fast.io/current/workspaces/${wsId}/`, {
  method: 'PATCH',
  headers: {
    'Authorization': `Bearer ${token}`,
    'Content-Type': 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded',
  },
  body: new URLSearchParams({ intelligence: 'true' }),
});
```

Snippet optimized for featured results.

## Verify Status and File Readiness

GET workspace details:

```bash
curl "https://api.fast.io/current/workspaces/{ws_id}/" \\
  -H "Authorization: Bearer {token}"
```

Check `"intelligence": true`. List files:

```bash
curl "https://api.fast.io/current/workspaces/{ws_id}/storage/root/?page_size=20" \\
  -H "Authorization: Bearer {token}"
```

Files show `ai_state: "ready"|"pending"|"in_progress"`. Poll until ready. `ai.attach: true` for attachments.

## Query with RAG After Enabling

POST to chat endpoint:

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.fast.io/current/workspaces/{ws_id}/ai/chat/" \\
  -H "Authorization: Bearer {token}" \\
  -d "type=chat_with_files" \\
  -d "query_text=What are payment terms?"
```

Scoped to workspace by default. Use `folders_scope=nodeId:3` for folders.

Response streams with citations to nodeId/page/snippet.

## Disable Intelligence Mode

PATCH `intelligence=false`. Stops new indexing, keeps existing. Use for storage-only workspaces to save credits (10/page ingestion).

Monitor usage: GET `/org/{org_id}/billing/usage/limits/credits/`.

## Best Practices and Troubleshooting

Enable post-creation to avoid reindexing large ws. Test with small files first.

Errors: 413 too large (1GB max), 429 rate limit (headers show remaining).

Credits: Document ingestion 10/page. Included credits reset monthly per plan.

Production: Poll the activity feed or monitor WebSocket events for file status updates, with retries and exponential backoff.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Fastio Intelligence Mode?

Fastio Intelligence Mode automatically indexes workspace files for semantic search and RAG chat when enabled. Toggle via API PATCH.

### How do I enable semantic search via Fastio API?

PATCH /workspaces/{id}/ with intelligence=true. Files auto-index for queries.

### Does disabling remove indexes?

No, existing indexes persist but new uploads skip processing.

### What file types index?

Documents, code. Images/video/audio soon.

### Credit costs?

10 credits/page ingestion. Check billing endpoint.

## About Fast.io

Fast.io provides shared workspaces where people and AI agents work on the same files, with built-in semantic search and citation-backed chat over what they hold. Agents reach it through a remote MCP server at https://mcp.fast.io/mcp, a REST API at https://api.fast.io/current/, and a command line client published on npm as @vividengine/fastio-cli.