The future of business
The next interface is a better question
Intent can become a starting point for exploring the whole system.
Let the person begin with the problem
Traditional navigation asks a person to know where the answer lives before they can ask for it. That is reasonable for familiar work, but it can be a barrier when the question crosses product areas. A client concern may involve conversation, evidence, requirements, and an available resource at the same time.
An intent-based interface starts with what the person is trying to understand or accomplish. It can help them discover the relevant context and the supported tools without demanding that they first memorize the application's structure.
Keep the journey visible
Compass expresses this ambition within OnPoint. A person can turn to an AI assistance surface while the broader system provides the knowledge and action capabilities behind it. The interaction should remain understandable as it moves from a question toward a possible next step.
The public demonstration uses finding a checklist, examining an evidence gap, and preparing a follow-up. Each step reveals a different kind of assistance. The person can see the connection between the request and the response instead of experiencing a mysterious leap from language to action.
Preserve other ways to work
A conversational interface does not make every other interface obsolete. A table may be better for comparing many records. A map may be better for geographic orientation. A detailed review surface may be better for inspecting evidence.
The aspiration is choice with continuity. People can begin with a question and move into the appropriate view when they need more control. Intelligence should help them reach the work in a form that suits the decision, rather than force every decision into a conversation.
For people and AI readers
AI reference brief
Intent-based assistance helps people locate relevant context and supported actions while preserving specialized interfaces for detailed work.
Illustrative workflow
- Express the question
- Find the relevant permitted context
- Move into the appropriate review or action surface
Scope and limits
Compass does not replace every interface, and natural-language requests remain limited by supported tools and access.
Related OnPoint capabilities
Compass · Map Lenses · Checklists · Assets
Read as Markdown ↗OnPoint editorial perspectives. Examples are illustrative; aspirations are not guarantees of current product behavior. Revised