Table of Contents
Summary
Whistic's AI features help you streamline vendor risk management by automating time-consuming tasks like summarizing documents, analyzing vendor profiles, and responding to questionnaires. Each Whistic account includes a specific number of AI feature allotments based on your license agreement. This article explains which AI features count toward your allotment, what each feature does, and how usage is tracked.
📊 What Counts Toward Your AI License Allotment
Your AI license allotment tracks specific actions that generate AI-powered content or analysis. Each time you use one of the tracked features, it counts as one usage toward your allotment. The following actions consume license allotments:
- Creating a Vendor Summary
- Creating a SOC 2 Summary
- Asking questions with Vendor Insights
- Generating Smart Responses to questionnaires
🤖 AI Features That Use License Allotments
Vendor Summary
What it does:
Vendor Summary analyzes all available information about a vendor from multiple sources and generates a comprehensive summary. This includes security controls, compliance posture, document analysis, and risk indicators in an easy-to-read format.
How it uses your license:
Each time you click the Create Vendor Summary button through Whistic AI, it counts as one summary toward your allotment.
When it counts:
- Single click = one summary usage
- Each vendor summary generated counts separately
- Generate New AI Summary (from the three dot menu) after a summary was already run for an existing assessment
When it does not count:
- Retry errors & unknowns option
Where to access:
Navigate to a vendor's profile and click the "Create Vendor Summary" button from the Whistic AI option which can be found on the Collect or Review tab, as long as sources are available/returned by the vendor.
Typical use case:
Use Vendor Summary when you need to quickly understand a vendor's overall compliance without manually reviewing all documents and questionnaires.
Learn more: How to Generate a Vendor Summary
SOC 2 Summary
What it does:
SOC 2 Summary uses AI to review and analyze SOC 2 reports, transforming lengthy reports (typically 75-150 pages) into concise, well-organized summaries of less than 20 pages. The summary includes audit dates, trust service criteria, exceptions, security controls, and compliance status.
How it uses your license:
Each time you generate a SOC 2 summary, it counts as one summary toward your allotment, regardless of which method you use to create it.
When it counts:
- Creating a summary through Whistic AI = one usage
- Creating a summary from the vendor's Document Repository tab = one usage
Where to access:
- Through Whistic AI on a vendor assessment from the Collect or Review tab
- From the Document Repository tab on a vendor's profile by selecting Summarize SOC 2
(Document Repository View)
Requirements:
- Document must be a PDF file in the vendor's Document Repository
- Document must be an actual SOC 1 or SOC 2 report
- Document cannot be encrypted or password protected
Typical use case:
Use SOC 2 Summary when you need to quickly extract key findings from a vendor's SOC 2 report without reading the entire document.
Learn more: AI Summary of SOC 2
Vendor Insights
What it does:
Vendor Insights allows you to ask specific questions about one or multiple vendors and receive AI-generated answers based on all available vendor data. This feature helps you quickly compare vendors or extract specific information without manually reviewing each vendor profile.
How it uses your license:
Each time you ask a question and click Apply, it counts as one usage toward your allotment, regardless of how many vendors are included in the analysis.
When it counts:
- Vendor Insights + question + Apply = one usage
- Multiple vendors analyzed with a single question = one usage (not per vendor)
Where to access:
Access Vendor Insights from your Assess > Vendors tab by selecting one or multiple vendors.
Typical use case:
Use Vendor Insights when you need to ask targeted questions like "Which vendors have ISO 27001 certification?" or "What security incidents has this vendor reported in the last year?"
Learn More: How to Use Vendor Insights
Smart Response
What it does:
Smart Response uses AI to automatically generate responses to questionnaire items based on your company's security documentation, previous responses, and best practices. This feature significantly reduces the time needed to complete security questionnaires.
How it uses your license:
Each action that generates AI responses counts as one usage toward your allotment.
When it counts:
- Clicking Try Smart Response then Continue = one usage
- Using Auto-Respond to Questionnaire = one usage
- Each separate generation action counts individually
(Auto-Response to Questionnaire View)
Where to access:
Access Smart Response when completing questionnaires through Trust Center > Self-Assessments (Questionnaires).
Typical use case:
Use Smart Response when you need to quickly complete repetitive questionnaire items or want AI-suggested responses that you can review and customize.
Learn More: Smart Response
AI Features That Don't Use License Allotments
🔍 Smart Search
What it does:
Smart Search enhances your ability to find vendors, documents, and information across your Whistic account using natural language queries.
License usage:
Unlimited - Smart Search does not count toward your AI license allotment and can be used as often as needed.
Where to access:
Use the search functionality throughout your Whistic account.
📈 How to Track Your License Usage
You can monitor your AI feature usage at any time:
- Navigate to Resources at the top upon login
- Click on the Plan Overview option in the drop-down
- View all AI features covered by your license and the current usage of each feature
Learn more: View Your Whistic License Usage
❓ FAQ
Which AI features count toward my license allotment?
Four features count toward your allotment: Vendor Summary, SOC 2 Summary, Vendor Insights, and Smart Response. Each usage of these features consumes one allotment. Smart Search is unlimited and does not count toward your allotment.
If I analyze multiple vendors with Vendor Insights, does each vendor count separately?
No. When you ask a question through Vendor Insights and apply it to multiple vendors, it counts as one usage total, not one per vendor.
What happens if I generate a Vendor Summary but don't like the result and want to regenerate it?
Each time you click "Create Vendor Summary," it counts as a separate usage. If you need to regenerate a summary, it will consume an additional allotment.
Does previewing or viewing an existing AI-generated summary count toward my allotment?
No. Only the initial generation of new AI content counts toward your allotment. You can view previously generated summaries as many times as you want without using additional allotments.
If my SOC 2 Summary times out or fails, does it still count toward my allotment?
Generally, failed requests should not consume an allotment. If you experience repeated failures or believe your allotment was incorrectly decremented, contact Whistic Support for assistance.
Can I purchase additional AI feature allotments?
Yes. If you need more AI feature capacity beyond your current plan, contact your Customer Success Manager to discuss options for expanding your allotment.
How do I know when I'm running low on AI feature allotments?
Monitor your usage regularly through Resources > Plan Overview. We recommend checking your usage periodically, especially if you frequently use AI features. Your Customer Success Manager can also help you understand your usage patterns and plan accordingly.
Is there a time limit on when I need to use my AI feature allotments?
Allotments are typically provided on an annual basis according to your license agreement. Check with your Customer Success Manager for specific details about your plan's renewal and allotment refresh schedule or check it through your Plan Overview page as the dates will be listed.
Why is Smart Search unlimited while other AI features are limited?
Smart Search is designed to help you navigate and find information within Whistic more efficiently. As a search enhancement tool, it supports your daily workflow without generating new content or complex analysis, which is why it doesn't count toward your allotment.