Get the sources in order
A knowledge assistant relies on the information it can retrieve. Review document ownership, duplication, and freshness before connecting a model. A polished answer built on an outdated source is still an outdated answer.
Keep access intentional
The assistant should respect who can see which information. Plan permissions through the retrieval process and test them with different user roles. Connecting a shared archive should not quietly expand access.
Make answers inspectable
Show the source material behind an answer where possible. Allow users to open the relevant document and confirm the context. If the sources do not support an answer, the system should say so and offer a useful next step.
Build a feedback loop
Collect examples of missing information, poor retrieval, and confusing answers. Review them as part of regular maintenance. Knowledge changes, so a useful assistant needs an owner and an update process.