Overview
How might we help people continue a conversation without staring at a blank composer?
When to use
- Research and chat products where answers naturally branch into follow-up questions.
- After substantive replies where users might not know what to ask next.
- Gemini related questions, Perplexity related research, ChatGPT suggested follow-ups.
- Surfaces where 2-4 high-relevance options beat a generic "Tell me more" nudge.
When to skip
- Dense professional tools where chips fight with primary actions (copy, cite, regenerate).
- Answers that already embed a clear checklist of next steps as the main content.
- Multi-turn agent runs mid-flight, where chips interrupt an active plan.
States
Design the suggestion lifecycle, not only static pills parked under every answer.
- 01
Answered
The agent reply is complete. Suggestions should reference what was just said, not the whole product.
- 02
Suggested
Two to four chips appear under the answer. Each names a concrete next task tied to the content.
- 03
Selected
The person taps a chip. It becomes the next user turn, optionally editable before send.
- 04
Loading
The follow-up generates from the chip prompt. Prior turns stay visible for context.
- 05
Continued
A new answer appears. Fresh chips may replace the old set based on the latest reply.
- 06
Dismissed
The person ignores chips and types freely. Suggestions should not block the composer.
Key UX elements
The parts that must be present for suggested next turns to feel useful.
Chips
Offer 2-4 contextual options.
Each chip should read like a real next question, not a filler prompt. More than four competes with copy, cite, and regenerate, so keep the row light.
Scope
Tie each chip to the answer.
Name a concrete next ask from the answer (compare options, dig into one claim, export). Avoid generic "Explain more."
Submit
Send the chip as a user turn.
Tap should append the prompt to the thread so the conversation history stays coherent.
Refresh
Replace chips after new answers.
Regenerate or a new reply should produce fresh suggestions, not repeat stale options.
Rules
Generic chips (“Tell me more”) that ignore the answer’s actual content.
Too many chips (6+) that recreate decision paralysis.
Chips that submit without allowing edit, forcing unwanted side quests.
Repeating the same chip after every regenerate with no novelty.
Evidence
| Product | Implementation |
|---|---|
| Gemini | Related question chips under answers to continue research. |
| ChatGPT | Suggested follow-ups after many replies to drive the next turn. |
| Perplexity | Related questions that deepen or pivot the research thread. |
| Claude | Contextual next-step prompts after substantive answers. |
