ClearSpecs AI for Azure DevOps
Supercharge Azure DevOps Boards with AI: Write, Summarize, and Manage Work Items Smarter
Free. As long as you want. Use it on us, then scale with Starter, Business, or Enterprise when you need more monthly prompts.
Install once, use immediately. No API keys, no Azure OpenAI endpoints, and no per-user AI configuration—after your admin installs the extension, open a work item and start.
Overview
Turn rough titles into solid descriptions, tighten acceptance criteria, break down epics into child items, and get instant answers about a work item—inside Azure Boards, on the work item form and in Boards > ClearSpecs AI. Hosted AI means there is nothing for individual users to install or configure: prompt templates, AI Chat, AI Child Item Generator, and AI Work Item Insights are ready as soon as the extension is enabled for your organization. In AI Chat, users can ask in natural language, let the assistant look up live work items, answer guided follow-up questions, and review proposed changes before anything is created or updated.
Why ClearSpecs AI
- Less blank-field syndrome: Go from title-only to description and acceptance criteria in seconds.
- Templates your whole org can reuse: Shared prompts for consistent structure and tone.
- Boards hub in one click: Prompt Templates plus AI Chat without leaving Boards.
- Agentic help, not just text generation: AI Chat can look up live work items, ask focused follow-up questions, and propose changes for review.
- Decompose without the grunt work: AI Child Item Generator drafts child items you can edit and create in bulk.
- Know the item in plain language: AI Work Item Insights for summaries, decisions, gaps, and follow-ups.
- Feels native: Lives on the work item, tabs, and Boards navigation you already use.
- Org-ready: Central settings for prompts and usage so admins stay in control.
- Zero setup for users: No local tools or AI accounts—just install for the org and use it in the browser.
Key capabilities
Prompts on the work item
Pick a template, run it, and drop the result into the field—card view with search or a compact strip of one-tap actions for speed.
Writing mode
Compose a one-off prompt when you need something that is not in the template list—ideal for targeted edits or experiments.
Agentic AI Chat
In Boards > ClearSpecs AI, open AI Chat for a more agent-like workflow: ask in natural language, let the assistant look up live work items, answer a few focused follow-up questions when needed, and review proposed create or update actions before anything changes.
Optional Project Context (same hub, side navigation Project Context) is saved per Azure DevOps project: team conventions, domain vocabulary, or architectural notes you enter there are included with AI chat requests (and other flows that read that saved text) for that project. That background text is not the same as attaching a specific work item when you open chat from AI Work Item Insights—attached items add a snapshot of those work items for defaulting field edits to the right ID.
When you open chat from AI Work Item Insights with a work item in context, the assistant receives that item’s snapshot (including Work Item ID when available) so field edits and follow-ups default to that item unless you specify another.
Use it to draft test cases, split stories into tasks, turn notes into backlog items, summarize existing work, or refine a request step by step without leaving Azure Boards.
AI Child Item Generator
On a work item, open the AI Child Item Generator tab. Choose a child type (for example Test Case), optionally add a focus or constraint, Regenerate suggestions, then select and create the items you want.
Boards hub — Prompt Templates and AI Chat
Under Boards > ClearSpecs AI, open Prompt Templates to search, filter, create, and edit prompts, or switch to AI Chat when you want an interactive assistant for querying work items, drafting new items, and refining requests in conversation. Use Project Context in the hub’s side navigation to save optional background text for the current project (what the in-product description calls conventions, vocabulary, and architectural decisions); after Save, that text is picked up for AI chat in that project. It is separate from attached work items, which apply when chat is opened with a work item in context.
AI Work Item Insights
Open insights from the work item menu to review the item in one place:
- Inspect — Structured spec health (score and checks), extracted decisions with attribution, and open questions from description, acceptance criteria, and comments. You can refine an open question in chat or send a custom prompt from the same tab.
- Chat — The same conversational assistant as Boards hub chat, preloaded with this work item so polish, split, or clarify requests target the correct ID by default.
You can still ask freely in Chat and use suggestions such as summarize, list tasks, or analyze progress where your build exposes them.
Built for day-in, day-out backlog work: fast enough for stand-ups and refinement, with clear progress while AI runs.
Requirements & compatibility
- Azure DevOps Services (cloud) organization.
- Browsers: Current versions of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox.
- Work items: User Stories, Bugs, Tasks, and other types your team uses (features vary by work item type and configuration).
Permissions
| Action |
Typical role |
| Install the extension |
Project Collection Administrator (or equivalent) |
| Manage org-level prompts and settings |
Users with access to a project |
| Run prompts and use Insights / Child items |
Users with access to the project and work item |
Installation
- Open the Azure DevOps Marketplace.
- Search for ClearSpecs AI and open the extension.
- Choose Get, select your organization, and complete installation.
- Confirm the extension appears under Organization settings > Extensions.
No mandatory setup step to start using AI: open any work item and you should see ClearSpecs AI. Admins can optionally customize prompts and settings under Organization settings (or project settings, depending on your setup).
Setup & validation
Everything above is optional—only if you want custom templates, org policies, or a paid subscription.
- Configure organization or project options for ClearSpecs AI where your admin policies allow.
- For subscription and billing (paid plans), use Subscription Management in Azure DevOps Organization settings.
- Step-by-step setup: Get started.
- Learn more: Documentation · Support
How to use
Run a prompt on a field
- Open a work item in Azure Boards.
- Find ClearSpecs AI next to a supported field (for example Description or Acceptance Criteria).
- Choose a prompt, optionally switch between card and compact views.
- Select Run, review the generated text, then Apply if you want to keep it.
Manage templates in Boards
- Go to Boards > ClearSpecs AI.
- Open Prompt Templates to create, edit, search, and filter prompts.
- Use AI Chat when you want an interactive assistant to query work items, draft new items, or refine requests step by step.
- Optionally choose Project Context in the hub navigation to save background text for this project (Save); it is included with AI chat requests in that project, separate from opening chat with a work item attached.
Generate child items
- Open a parent work item (for example a Product Backlog Item or User Story).
- Select the AI Child Item Generator tab.
- Pick the child work item type, add an optional focus phrase, and select Regenerate as needed.
- Review suggestions, adjust text, choose which items to create, and save.
Use AI Work Item Insights
- Open a work item.
- Open AI Work Item Insights (for example from More actions or the entry point shown in your organization’s build).
- On Inspect, review Spec health, Decisions, and Open questions; refresh to re-run analysis. Use Open questions actions to jump to Chat with a refinement prompt, or type at the bottom to open Chat with your message.
- On Chat, talk to the assistant with the current item attached as context. Pick a quick action or type your own question. Start a New chat when you want a fresh thread (depending on version).
Security & data
- Hosted AI: No per-user API keys in the work item—ClearSpecs AI runs the integration for you.
- Your policies matter: Treat prompts like any other work item text if you handle regulated data.
- Privacy: extension Privacy policy tab and Privacy policy (hosted).
Troubleshooting
Common issues
| Issue |
What to try |
| Extension not visible |
Confirm installation, refresh the browser, check project access |
| Prompts not loading |
Check network, permissions, and that templates exist for your org |
| Cannot apply AI content |
Confirm you can edit the work item and the field is not read-only or blocked by rules |
| Prompt management missing |
Only authorized admins can manage org prompts; contact your admin |
| Slow response or timeout |
Retry later; avoid many simultaneous requests |
Error messages
| Message |
What it usually means |
| Failed to load prompts |
Network or session issue; refresh the page |
| Permission denied |
Your account cannot perform this action; ask an admin |
| AI service timeout |
Temporary load or connectivity; retry |
| Cannot apply content |
Field or work item is not editable |
Optimization tips
- Keep prompts concise and specific.
- Avoid firing many AI requests at the same time on a slow connection.
- Update to the latest extension version when your admin publishes updates.
Known limitations
| Limitation |
Workaround |
| Field-level prompts target supported fields (for example Description, Acceptance Criteria, Repro Steps) on the form |
For other fields, copy from the preview and paste, or ask your admin about future field support |
| No single-click bulk apply across many work items |
Use Open in Excel or batch edits outside ClearSpecs AI |
| Output quality varies with prompt and context |
Refine org templates and iterate until the tone matches your team |
| Custom field names may not appear in every template |
Use writing mode or adjust org templates |
Frequently asked questions
How do I install ClearSpecs AI?
From the Azure DevOps Marketplace, search for ClearSpecs AI, then install to your organization. See Installation.
Who can manage prompt templates?
Users with the appropriate administrator permissions for your organization or project.
Why don’t I see ClearSpecs AI on the work item?
Verify the extension is installed, you have project access, and your browser cache is refreshed.
Is any configuration or setup required to use it?
No for normal use. You do not enter API keys, Azure OpenAI endpoints, or deployment names in Azure DevOps—install the extension for the org, then open a work item and go. Admins may optionally tune prompts or subscriptions later.
Do I need my own OpenAI or Azure OpenAI subscription?
No. Usage goes through ClearSpecs AI’s service; see Security & data.
What are the usage limits?
The free tier includes a monthly prompt allowance; paid plans increase limits.
AI content didn’t apply. What should I check?
Confirm edit permissions and that the field is not locked by rules or state.
How do I use summarize or Insights?
Summarize: work item More actions > AI – Summarize work item. Insights: open AI Work Item Insights from the menu entry your version provides. See How to use.
How does user activation work?
Users are activated when they run prompts; activation may expire after a period of inactivity (see current product behavior in-app or in admin docs).
Where do I get help?
Support, Troubleshooting, and FAQ above.
Support and resources
Get help
Documentation
Release notes
v1.7.0
- Project Context (Boards hub): Under Boards > ClearSpecs AI > Project Context, save per-project background text; it is sent with chats.
- Attached work items in AI Chat: When chat is opened with a work item in context (for example from AI Work Item Insights), the assistant receives that item in the prompt as Attached work items, so proposed field edits target that work item by default unless you specify another (or the assistant asks when several items could apply).
- Work Item Inspect: New structured Inspect view with spec health (score + six standard checks), decisions (with source attribution), and open questions from the item’s description, acceptance criteria, and comments; complements free-form insights Chat and summarize flows without replacing them.
v1.5.0
- AI Work Item Insights: ask questions and use quick actions in a chat panel on the work item; start a new chat when needed.
- AI Child Item Generator: work item tab to pick a child type, optionally add focus text, regenerate suggestions, and create selected items.
- Boards > ClearSpecs AI: open Prompt Templates to search, filter, create, and edit organization prompts.
v1.4.0
- All plans allow unlimited users.
v1.3.0
- Writing mode for one-off prompts on supported fields.
- Summarize work item from work item actions.
v1.2.0
- Summarize work item: produce a short summary that can include description, acceptance criteria, comments, and more.
v1.0.0
- Clearer AI-generated descriptions and acceptance criteria from templates.
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