> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.shovels.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# What Is Charlie AI?

> Charlie is Shovels' AI research agent at charlie.shovels.ai. Ask permit data questions in plain English and get instant answers — no filters, downloads, or code required.

**Charlie is Shovels' AI research agent.** Ask questions about permit data in plain English at [charlie.shovels.ai](https://charlie.shovels.ai) and get instant answers — no filters, no downloads, no code required. Charlie is built on the full Shovels dataset and uses your Shovels API credits.

## What Charlie Can Do

Charlie can answer complex, natural-language questions that would otherwise take minutes to build manually in the web app.

**Example questions:**

* "Find all solar permits filed in Connecticut by Freedom Forever in the last 12 months"
* "Which contractors pulled the most HVAC permits in Austin, TX last year?"
* "How many ADU permits were issued in Los Angeles County in 2024?"
* "Show me roofing contractors in Phoenix with more than 50 permits filed"
* "What's the average job value for new construction permits in Denver?"

## When to Use Charlie

Charlie is ideal when you want a quick answer without building a search from scratch. Use it when:

* You have a specific research question (contractor, geography, permit type)
* You want to verify data before pulling a full export
* You're not sure what filters to use in the web app
* You want to explore the data conversationally

<Info>
  For bulk exports or recurring data pulls, [Shovels Online](/docs/knowledge-base/shovels-online/how-it-works) or the [API](/docs/knowledge-base/api/basics/api-key-access) will serve you better.
</Info>

## Credits & Access

Charlie uses your Shovels API credits and is available to any user with an active API plan. Free trial users receive **250 requests** to get started.

See [How do API credits work?](/docs/knowledge-base/api/basics/request-counts) for details on how requests are counted.

## Getting Started

Visit [charlie.shovels.ai](https://charlie.shovels.ai) and sign in with your Shovels account.

## Related Articles

* [What's included in the free trial?](/docs/knowledge-base/getting-started/free-trial-guide)
* [How does pricing work?](/docs/knowledge-base/getting-started/pricing-structure)
* [How do I access my API key?](/docs/knowledge-base/api/basics/api-key-access)
* [How Shovels Online works](/docs/knowledge-base/shovels-online/how-it-works)