Bearsampp AI Chatbot
Introduction
Bearsampp AI is a Joomla 5.4 and Joomla 6 site module that adds a floating chat widget backed by an OpenAI-compatible chat completions API. Instead of answering from general model knowledge, it grounds every reply strictly in the site content you select: published articles from chosen categories, FAQ articles (title as the question, text as the answer) and, when you use Kunena, your latest published forum topics. When nothing in the knowledge base matches, it returns a configurable fallback answer instead of guessing.
Grounded answers, not guesswork
You decide what the AI can see: multi-select article categories, a FAQ category and an opt-in forum switch.
Installing Kunena never widens what the AI can answer - forum content is only included when you switch Include Kunena forum topics to Yes.
When the knowledge base has no matching content, the visitor receives your fallback answer; the module can answer a no-knowledge question without even calling the API.
The optional source links show the pages an answer was drawn from, so visitors can read the original article.
Bring your own AI provider
Works with any OpenAI-compatible chat completions service. The default is OpenCode Zen on a paid model variant, so an OpenCode Zen key with credits is required; point the endpoint, key and model at any other service if you prefer.
Configurable model, fallback model, max response tokens, temperature and request timeout.
A fallback model is tried once when the primary request times out, is rate limited (HTTP 429) or returns a server error (HTTP 5xx).
The API key is read on the server only and is never sent to the browser.
Built for real Joomla sites
Floating widget in four positions (bottom-right, bottom-left, middle-right, middle-left) with configurable offsets.
Configurable panel width and height, clamped to the viewport on small screens.
Collapsed launcher reduces to a 48px round icon button on phones so it cannot become a wide bar; an option keeps the text label on mobile.
Auto (system), light and dark themes, plus a runtime toggle that is remembered in localStorage.
Optional welcome message and optional connection-status indicator.
Copy-conversation button that exports a timestamped transcript.
Accessible markup: ARIA live regions, aria-busy, aria-expanded/aria-controls, Escape-to-close, a Ctrl+/ shortcut, :focus-visible outlines, reduced-motion and forced-colors support.
Assistant replies render basic Markdown: fenced code, inline code, links, bold and italic.
Uses namespaced src/ code, a DI service provider, MVC-backed content queries, the Web Asset Manager and a com_ajax endpoint.
Updates delivered through the native Joomla Update System.
Key features
Floating, fully themeable AI chat widget
Grounding from article categories + FAQ articles + optional Kunena topics
Any OpenAI-compatible chat completions API
Configurable fallback model for timeouts / 429 / 5xx
No-knowledge fallback answer without calling the API
Optional source links to the originating pages
Four positions, adjustable size and offsets
Auto/light/dark theme with a persisted runtime toggle
Copy conversation to clipboard
Optional welcome message and connection-status indicator
Accessible, keyboard friendly, reduced-motion and high-contrast aware
Native Joomla update server support
GPLv3 or later, matching Joomla licensing rules
Typical use cases
Give visitors an assistant that answers from your documentation and FAQ.
Reduce repeat support questions by surfacing published answers.
Add a support chat without running your own model - bring an API key.
Let a Kunena community's latest topics feed the assistant (opt-in).
How it works in one paragraph
The module renders a floating chat widget. When a visitor sends a message, the widget POSTs it over comajax to index.php?option=comajax&module=bearsamppai&method=ask&format=json with the module id and the message. The server loads the content you configured (published articles, FAQ question/answer pairs and, if enabled, Kunena topics), reduces it to plain text, assembles a compact context within a configurable character budget, and sends a system prompt plus the visitor's question to your configured AI endpoint using a Bearer token. The answer is returned as JSON and rendered by the widget.
Requirements
Joomla 5.4 or later (Joomla 6 ready)
PHP 8.1 or later
An OpenAI-compatible chat completions API key (with the default endpoint, an OpenCode Zen key with credits)
Outbound HTTPS access from the server to your AI endpoint
Kunena 6.x is optional, and only needed if you enable forum grounding
Not compatible with Joomla 3 or Joomla 4
Notes for reviewers
The extension itself collects no analytics, tracking or telemetry, and stores no visitor conversations.
To answer a question, the module sends the visitor's question together with the selected knowledge-base context from your server to the AI endpoint you configure. That is the only data egress and it goes only to the endpoint set in the module; no other third party is contacted.
The API key is stored in the module parameters and read on the server only; it is never exposed to the browser.
Only published content is read, at the access level Joomla's content configuration allows. Kunena tables are never queried unless the forum switch is on.
Bearsampp AI Chatbot
- Version:
- 2026.10.17.9
- Developer:
- Troy Hall
- Last updated:
-
Oct 17 2026
21 hours ago - Date added:
- Oct 10 2026
- License:
- GPLv2 or later
- Type:
- Free download
- Includes:
- m
- Compatibility:
- J5 J6
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