Meet Helix
Get to know DNA's built-in assistant, understand the two modes, and see how usage limits work on each plan.
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Introduction
Helix is DNA’s built-in assistant. Ask it questions in plain language and, when you want, have it propose changes to a client file that you approve before they run. This page covers what Helix is, the two modes it runs in, and how usage works.
Where to find Helix
Helix lives in two places: a general-purpose surface from the main sidebar, and a client-scoped surface inside every client file. The surface you open decides what Helix can see.
The two modes
Helix behaves differently depending on which surface you open. Knowing the difference matters, because global Helix starts with no client in focus. It can look up a client you name, but the client-scoped surface already has their file in view.
| Global Helix | Client-scoped Helix | |
|---|---|---|
| What it sees | No client in focus by default. It can look up your clients when you name one or ask across them. | The full client file: assets, debts, coverage, beneficiaries, notes, and any indexed document text. |
| Best for | Industry questions, sales process help, skill-building, compliance prompts. | Client-specific advising, preparing for meetings, spotting gaps or inconsistencies on a file. |
| Can it propose actions? | Yes, once it has found the client. You approve each one before it runs. See The action queue. | Yes. See The action queue. |
Conversation history
Active conversations are never deleted automatically. The left sidebar on any Helix page lists your recent chats. You can rename, archive, delete, or search across them. Opening an older conversation resumes it exactly where you left off.
Archived conversations are listed in Settings, under Helix, where you can search them, restore them, or delete them. DNA deletes an archived conversation automatically once it has been archived for longer than your retention setting, which is 90 days by default. The clock starts when you archive the chat, not when you start it.
You choose that window in the same place, in Conversation History: don’t save conversations, 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, 6 months, 1 year, or keep forever.
Usage on Starter
Starter includes 6 Helix questions per 2-hour window. The windows are fixed, not rolling. If you use your 6 questions at the end of a window, you can ask again as soon as the next window starts.
When you hit the limit, DNA shows an upgrade prompt the next time you try to send a message. Pro and Team accounts have no limit.