Ask your data questions in plain English — no SQL required
You don't need to know SQL to get answers from a CSV or JSON file in Synth. Upload it, then just ask a question the way you'd ask a colleague — the built-in AI assistant reads your file's structure and answers directly, or writes the SQL for you if you want to see it.
Two modes, your choice
Synth's AI assistant runs in one of two modes, switchable at any time:
- SQL Mode — every reply is a runnable SQL query in a code block, ready to insert into the editor and run.
- General Mode — every reply is a plain-English answer about your data's structure and meaning, with no SQL shown at all.
Questions people actually ask
Both modes are built for real exploratory questions, not just "write me a query":
- "What columns does this file have, and what do they look like?"
- "Which column looks like it's the unique identifier?"
- "How many rows have a missing email address?"
- "What's the relationship between the orders table and the customers table?"
- "Show me the top 5 customers by total spend" (SQL Mode writes the exact query)
What the AI can and can't do
This is the part most tools blur, so it's worth being precise about: General Mode is genuinely useful for understanding what a file contains — its columns, structure, and how tables relate — but it doesn't fabricate a computed number it can't actually see. Ask for something that needs a real calculation (an average, a sum, a count under a condition), and it tells you plainly that it can't compute that without running a query, and points you to SQL Mode instead. SQL Mode then writes the exact query, you run it locally, and the result comes from your real data — not a guess.
Your data stays local, even here
The AI assistant only ever receives your table's schema — column names, types, and row count — never your actual row data. Every query, in either mode, still executes locally against the SQLite database running in your browser tab. Read more in Privacy-first data analysis.
How it works
- Upload a CSV or JSON file — no account required.
- Toggle the AI assistant on and pick SQL Mode or General Mode.
- Ask your question in plain language and get an answer, or a ready-to-run query.
Frequently asked questions
Can I ask questions about my data without knowing SQL?
Yes. Synth's AI assistant has a General Mode that reads your file's schema and answers directly in plain English — no SQL required. A SQL Mode is also available if you'd rather see or write the query yourself.
Does the AI assistant see my actual data?
No. Only your table's schema — column names, types, and row count — is sent to generate a response. Your actual row data never leaves your browser; every query still runs locally against the SQLite database in your tab.
What's the difference between SQL Mode and General Mode?
SQL Mode returns a runnable SQL query you can insert into the editor and execute. General Mode answers in plain English about your data's structure instead, and points you to SQL Mode when a question needs an actual computed number.
Can the AI compute an exact answer like an average or a total?
For an exact computed value, use SQL Mode — the AI writes the query, and running it happens locally against your real data, so the number is always exact, not a model estimate. General Mode is built for questions about structure and meaning, not for guessing at numbers it can't see.