Input Composition

What users can input and how—text formatting, file attachments, images, voice, and input controls across 12 AI systems.

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Text Input Capabilities
Attachment Support Patterns
Multi-modal Input
Input Controls & Formatting
Input Length Limits
Submit Mechanisms
Input Enhancement Features

Introduction

Once users access the AI input field, what can they actually put into it? Across 12 AI systems, we found dramatic variation in supported input types—from plain text only to sophisticated multi-modal composition with files, images, voice, and structured formatting.

Key finding: Standalone systems support rich multi-modal input (100% support images, 67% support voice), while integrated systems focus on text + context (60% text-only, 40% support attachments).

Text Input Capabilities

AI Input Composition: Text, Attachments & Multi-modal Patterns | Northbase

Capability	Count	%	Systems
Plain text → Markdown rendered	9	75%	ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Microsoft Copilot, v0, GitHub Copilot, Retool AI, Atlassian Rovo
Native rich text	2	17%	Notion AI, Google Docs AI
Plain text only	1	8%	Airtable Omni

System	Supports Files	Upload Button	Drag & Drop	Paste	Max Size	Formats
ChatGPT	✓	✓	✓	✓	512 MB	All common formats
Claude	✓	✓	✓	✓	10 MB	PDF, docs, images, code
Gemini	✓	✓	✓	✓	20 MB	Docs, PDFs, images
Perplexity	✓	✓	✓	✓	10 MB	PDF, images
Microsoft Copilot	✓	✓	✓	✓	10 MB	Common formats
v0	✓	✓	✗	✗	5 MB	Images only
GitHub Copilot	✓	✓	✗	✓	10 MB	Code files, context
Notion AI	✓	✓	✗	✓	Via Notion	Notion-supported formats
Google Docs AI	✗	✗	✗	✗	N/A	None—uses doc context
Airtable Omni	✗	✗	✗	✗	N/A	None—uses base context
Retool AI	✓	✓	✗	✓	10 MB	Images, docs
Atlassian Rovo	✓	✓	✗	✓	10 MB	Confluence/Jira formats

Modality	Count	%	Systems
Image upload	10	83%	All except Google Docs AI, Airtable Omni
Image analysis	9	75%	All except Google Docs AI, Airtable Omni, Notion AI
Image generation	3	25%	ChatGPT (DALL-E), Gemini (Imagen), Microsoft Copilot (Designer)
Voice conversation	4	33%	ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Microsoft Copilot
Voice input only	1	8%	Google Docs AI

Control	Count	%	Systems
Arrow up submit icon	8	67%	ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, v0, Airtable Omni, Retool AI, Atlassian Rovo
Text label submit	2	17%	Microsoft Copilot ("Send"), Google Docs AI ("Insert"/"Generate")
Sparkle icon submit	2	17%	GitHub Copilot, Notion AI
Enter = submit	10	83%	All except Notion AI, Google Docs AI
Cmd+Enter = submit	2	17%	Notion AI, Google Docs AI

Input Composition

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Text Input Capabilities

Input Composition

Have questions about AI Input & Context?

Table of Contents

Introduction

Text Input Capabilities

Basic Text Input (Universal)

Pattern A: Plain Text → Markdown Rendered (9 systems)

Pattern B: Native Rich Text (2 systems)

Pattern C: Plain Text Only (1 system)

Attachment Support Patterns

Pattern A: Full Attachment Support (8 systems)

Pattern B: Context-Based / No Direct Attachments (2 systems)

Pattern C: Limited Attachment (2 systems)

Upload Methods Comparison

File Size Limits

Image Support

Voice Input

Input Controls & Formatting

Submit Button Patterns

Keyboard Shortcuts

Input Modifiers & Special Controls

Input Composition

Have questions about AI Input & Context?

Table of Contents

Introduction

Text Input Capabilities

Input Composition

Have questions about AI Input & Context?

Table of Contents

Introduction

Text Input Capabilities

Basic Text Input (Universal)

Basic Text Input (Universal)

Pattern A: Plain Text → Markdown Rendered (9 systems)

Pattern A: Plain Text → Markdown Rendered (9 systems)

Pattern B: Native Rich Text (2 systems)

Pattern B: Native Rich Text (2 systems)

Pattern C: Plain Text Only (1 system)

Pattern C: Plain Text Only (1 system)

Attachment Support Patterns

Pattern A: Full Attachment Support (8 systems)

Pattern A: Full Attachment Support (8 systems)

Pattern B: Context-Based / No Direct Attachments (2 systems)

Pattern B: Context-Based / No Direct Attachments (2 systems)

Pattern C: Limited Attachment (2 systems)

Pattern C: Limited Attachment (2 systems)

Upload Methods Comparison

Upload Methods Comparison

File Size Limits

File Size Limits

Multi-modal Input

Image Support

Image Support

Voice Input

Voice Input

Input Controls & Formatting

Submit Button Patterns

Submit Button Patterns

Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard Shortcuts

Input Modifiers & Special Controls

Input Modifiers & Special Controls