Working with Images
The Chat API supports you working with images in 3 different ways:
- Public Images - Profile photos for bots and users that the AI can see and reference
- Vault Images - Private photo library for bots to share contextually during conversations
- User Sending Images - Photos users send in conversations that bots can recognize and respond to
Image Types
1. Public Images (Profile Images)
Public images show up on bot and user profiles. The AI looks at these photos to understand what both the bot and user look like, so it can naturally talk about appearance.
Why this matters for bots: A bot with beach photos can say "I was at the beach yesterday." A fitness bot with gym photos can mention "my workout today." The AI keeps the bot's look and personality matched. It's also important if the user ever mentions an image that he sees on the bots profile, so it can respond with context
Why this matters for users: The AI sees the user's photos too and can personalize the conversation. If a user has travel photos, the bot might ask about trips. If they have pet photos, the bot knows to bring up animals.
Managing public images:
How it works in conversations:
Upload and manage profile images for bots and users
2. Vault Images (Private Bot Content)
Vault images are a private library of photos that the bot can intelligently send during conversations. The AI analyzes the conversation context and selects relevant images to share, just like a real person would.
Why this matters: Instead of random images, the AI picks photos that make sense contextually. If you're discussing vacation plans, the bot might share a beach photo. If talking about workouts, they might send a gym selfie. This creates natural, engaging conversations where image sharing feels authentic rather than forced.
Managing vault images:
How it works in conversations:
Build a private content library for your bot to share in conversations
3. User Sending Images
Users can send images as part of their messages in a conversation. The bot can recognize what is in the image, and respond accordingly.
Enable users to send photos and media in conversations
Quick Comparison
| Type | Visibility | Who Uploads | Who Sends | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Images | Everyone | You (via API) | N/A (displayed on profile) | Profile photos, visual context for AI |
| Vault Images | Private | You (via API) | Bot (AI-selected) | Bot's photo library for contextual sharing |
| User Images | Conversation only | Users | Users | User-sent photos in chats |