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This guide shows you how to install AI Search on your TYPO3 website for the first time. It takes about 15 minutes. AI Search needs a second, free extension called AI Foundation. AI Foundation connects TYPO3 to an AI service (for example OpenAI). Keep both extensions switched on.
Upgrading from an older version (before v14)? Follow Reinstall After Upgrading instead.
AI Search works with TYPO3 v12, v13 and v14. On TYPO3 v14, Admin Tools is called System. See TYPO3 v12, v13 and v14.

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Before you start

You need:
  • An administrator login for the TYPO3 backend.
  • Your AI Search license key from T3Planet.
  • An account with an AI service (for example OpenAI) and its API key (a password for the AI service). No account? You can use T3Planet Credits instead.

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Step 1 — Install the License Manager

The License Manager (ns_license) unlocks T3Planet Premium extensions. Install its latest version first.

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Step 2 — Activate the License

  1. Go to Admin Tools → T3Planet Shop (on TYPO3 v14: System → T3Planet Shop). Only system maintainers see this module.
  2. Enter your AI Search license key.
  3. Click to activate the license.
  4. Wait until AI Search is downloaded and installed.
  5. Check that AI Foundation was installed too. If not, see Step 3.
If your project is managed with Composer:
  1. Add nitsan/ns-t3as and nitsan/ns-t3cs to the only list of the T3Planet repository in composer.json:
  1. Run:
  1. Check that nitsan/ns-t3af (AI Foundation) is installed. If not, run composer require nitsan/ns-t3af.
Full details: License activation

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Step 3 — Install AI Foundation

Skip this step if AI Foundation was already installed in Step 2.
  1. Go to Admin Tools → Extensions (on TYPO3 v14: System → Extensions).
  2. Choose Get Extensions.
  3. Search for AI Foundation (ns_t3af).
  4. Click install.
  5. Clear all caches.
AI Foundation is free. Download page: extensions.typo3.org/extension/ns_t3af

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Step 4 — Run Database Analyzer

TYPO3 needs to create new database tables for AI Search.
  1. Go to Admin Tools → Maintenance (on TYPO3 v14: System → Maintenance).
  2. Click Analyze Database Structure.
  3. Apply all suggested changes.

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Step 5 — Load the required TypoScript

Now switch on AI Search for your website. Choose one of the two ways. Option A – Site set (TYPO3 v13 and v14, recommended) A site set is a package of settings you switch on for your website.
  1. Go to Site Management → Sites (on TYPO3 v14: Sites → Setup).
  2. Click Edit (pencil icon) on your website.
  3. On the General tab, find Sets for this Site.
  4. Add AI Chatbot/Search - TYPO3 Extension.
  5. Add T3AS - TYPO3 AI Search Extension.
  6. Click Save.
  7. Clear all caches.
Site configuration, General tab with Sets for this Site (TYPO3 v14) Option B – Static templates (TYPO3 v12, or if you don’t use site sets)
  1. Go to Site Management → TypoScript (on TYPO3 v14: Sites → TypoScript).
  2. Select the start page of your website.
  3. Edit the TypoScript record and open the Includes tab.
  4. Under Include static (from extensions), add AI Chatbot/Search - TYPO3 Extension.
  5. Add T3AS - TYPO3 AI Search Extension.
  6. Save and clear all caches.
Required TypoScript includes for T3AS and T3CS
Always add both entries. AI Search does not load the first one by itself.
The Plugin PID is the ID of the page that holds your AI Search search box. Developers need it for some TypoScript setups.
  • With a site set: on the site, click Edit site settings → Ns AI Search → Settings → enter the Plugin PID → Save.
  • With static templates: set it in the Constant Editor (field Plugin PID). Edit site settings: Ns AI Search, Settings, Plugin PID

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Step 6 — Configure the AI Provider

Connect AI Search to your AI service.
  1. Go to AI Universe → AI Foundation → AI Providers.
  2. Click New Provider.
  3. Choose your AI service under Adapter type.
  4. Enter your API key and choose the models.
  5. Turn on Provider enabled and Set as Default Provider.
  6. Click Save.
  7. Test the connection (see Testing a connection).
No own API key? Use T3Planet Credits instead. See T3Planet Credits. For a guided setup, use Quick Setup in AI Foundation (AI Foundation installation).

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Step 7 — Verify the Installation

Check that:
  • AI Universe → AI Chatbot/Search opens without errors.
  • The license is active.
  • The AI provider test was successful.
AI Universe menu in the TYPO3 backend with AI Foundation and AI Chatbot/Search Done! Next, add your content and start the training: see Configuration.
AI Search is a Premium extension and needs a T3Planet license. AI Foundation is free. More about licenses: License.