---
title: Using AI with Superset
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---

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# Using AI with Superset

Superset supports AI assistants through the [Model Context Protocol (MCP)](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/). Connect Claude, ChatGPT, or other MCP-compatible clients to explore your data, build charts, create dashboards, and run SQL -- all through natural language.

:::info
Requires Superset 5.0+. Your admin must enable and deploy the MCP server before you can connect.
See the **[MCP Server admin guide](/admin-docs/configuration/mcp-server)** for setup instructions.
:::

---

## What Can AI Do with Superset?

### Explore Your Data

Ask your AI assistant to browse what's available in your Superset instance:

- **List datasets** -- see all datasets you have access to, with filtering and search
- **Get dataset details** -- column names, types, available metrics, and filters
- **List charts and dashboards** -- find existing visualizations by name or keyword
- **Get chart and dashboard details** -- understand what a chart shows, its query, and configuration

**Example prompts:**
> "What datasets are available?"
> "Show me the columns in the sales_orders dataset"
> "Find dashboards related to revenue"

### Build Charts

Describe the visualization you want and AI creates it for you:

- **Preview-first workflow** -- by default AI generates an Explore link so you can review the chart before it is saved. Say "save it" to commit permanently
- **Create charts from natural language** -- describe what you want to see and AI picks the right chart type, metrics, and dimensions
- **Preview before saving** -- `generate_chart` defaults to `save_chart=False`, showing the chart in Explore before it's committed. Ask AI to save once you're satisfied.
- **Modify existing charts** -- `update_chart` also supports preview mode so you can review changes before saving (update filters, change chart types, add metrics)
- **Get Explore links** -- open any chart in Superset's Explore view for further refinement

**Example prompts:**
> "Create a bar chart showing monthly revenue by region from the sales dataset"
> "Update chart 42 to use a line chart instead"
> "Give me a link to explore this chart further"

:::tip Preview-first workflow
Charts are **not saved by default**. The workflow is intentionally iterative:

1. **Explore** — AI generates an Explore link so you can see the chart before it exists in Superset
2. **Iterate** — ask the AI to adjust the chart; changes are previewed without touching the database
3. **Save** — when you're happy, say "save it" and the chart is permanently stored

To skip the preview and save immediately, include "and save it" in your prompt.
:::

### Create Dashboards

Build dashboards from a collection of charts:

- **Generate dashboards** -- create a new dashboard with a set of charts, automatically laid out
- **Add charts to existing dashboards** -- place a chart on an existing dashboard with automatic positioning

**Example prompts:**
> "Create a dashboard called 'Q4 Sales Overview' with charts 10, 15, and 22"
> "Add the revenue trend chart to the executive dashboard"

### Browse Databases

Discover what database connections are configured in your Superset instance:

- **List databases** -- see all database connections you have access to
- **Get database details** -- name, backend type (PostgreSQL, Snowflake, etc.), and connection status

**Example prompts:**
> "What databases are connected to Superset?"
> "Show me details about the data warehouse connection"

### Create Virtual Datasets

Build ad-hoc SQL datasets that can be used as the basis for charts:

- **Create virtual datasets** -- write a SQL query and save it as a reusable dataset
- **Use immediately in charts** -- the returned dataset ID can be passed directly to chart creation

**Example prompts:**
> "Create a dataset from: SELECT region, SUM(revenue) as total_revenue FROM orders GROUP BY region"
> "Make a virtual dataset called 'monthly_signups' from the users table filtered to last 12 months"

### Run SQL Queries

Execute SQL directly through your AI assistant:

- **Run queries** -- execute SQL with full Superset RBAC enforcement (you can only query data your roles allow)
- **Open SQL Lab** -- get a link to SQL Lab pre-populated with a query, ready to run and explore
- **Save queries** -- save a SQL query to SQL Lab's Saved Queries for later reuse

**Example prompts:**
> "Run this query: SELECT region, SUM(revenue) FROM sales GROUP BY region"
> "Open SQL Lab with a query to show the top 10 customers by order count"
> "Save this query as 'Weekly Revenue Report'"

### Analyze Chart Data

Pull the raw data behind any chart:

- **Get chart data** -- retrieve the data a chart displays, with support for JSON, CSV, and Excel export formats
- **Inspect results** -- useful for verifying what a visualization shows or feeding data into other tools

**Example prompts:**
> "Get the data behind chart 42"
> "Export chart 15 data as CSV"

### Check Instance Status

- **Health check** -- verify your Superset instance is up and the MCP connection is working
- **Instance info** -- get high-level statistics about your Superset instance (number of datasets, charts, dashboards)

**Example prompts:**
> "Is Superset healthy?"
> "How many dashboards are in this instance?"

---

## Connecting Your AI Client

Once your admin has deployed the MCP server, connect your AI client using the instructions below.

### Claude Desktop

Edit your Claude Desktop config file:

- **macOS**: `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`
- **Windows**: `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`
- **Linux**: `~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "superset": {
      "url": "http://localhost:5008/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

Restart Claude Desktop. The hammer icon in the chat bar confirms the connection.

If your admin has enabled JWT authentication, you may need to include a token:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "superset": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-remote@latest",
        "http://your-superset-host:5008/mcp",
        "--header",
        "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

### Claude Code (CLI)

Add to your project's `.mcp.json`:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "superset": {
      "type": "url",
      "url": "http://localhost:5008/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

### ChatGPT

1. Click your profile icon > **Settings** > **Apps and Connectors**
2. Enable **Developer Mode** in Advanced Settings
3. In the chat composer, press **+** > **Add sources** > **App** > **Connect more** > **Create app**
4. Enter a name and your MCP server URL
5. Click **I understand and continue**

:::info
ChatGPT MCP connectors require a Pro, Team, Enterprise, or Edu plan.
:::

Ask your admin for the MCP server URL and any authentication tokens you need.

---

## Tips for Best Results

- **Be specific** -- "Create a bar chart of monthly revenue by region from the sales dataset" works better than "Make me a chart"
- **Start with exploration** -- ask what datasets and charts exist before creating new ones
- **Review AI-generated content** -- always check chart configurations and SQL before saving or sharing
- **Use Explore for refinement** -- ask AI for an Explore link, then fine-tune interactively in the Superset UI
- **Check permissions if you get errors** -- AI respects Superset's RBAC, so you can only access data your roles allow

---

## Available Tools Reference

### Exploration & Discovery

| Tool | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `health_check` | Verify the MCP server is running and connected |
| `get_instance_info` | Get instance statistics (dataset, chart, dashboard counts) |
| `get_schema` | Discover available charts, datasets, and dashboards with schema info |

### Datasets

| Tool | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `list_datasets` | List datasets with filtering and search |
| `get_dataset_info` | Get dataset metadata (columns, metrics, filters) |
| `create_virtual_dataset` | Create a virtual dataset from a SQL query |

### Charts

| Tool | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `list_charts` | List charts with filtering and search |
| `get_chart_info` | Get chart metadata and configuration |
| `get_chart_data` | Retrieve chart data (JSON, CSV, or Excel) |
| `get_chart_preview` | Generate a chart preview (URL, ASCII, table, or Vega-Lite) |
| `get_chart_type_schema` | Get the configuration schema for a chart type |
| `generate_chart` | Create a new chart from a specification (defaults to preview mode — review before saving) |
| `update_chart` | Modify an existing chart's configuration (pass `generate_preview=False` to persist immediately instead of returning a preview URL) |
| `update_chart_preview` | Update a cached chart preview without saving |
| `generate_explore_link` | Generate an Explore URL for interactive visualization |

### Dashboards

| Tool | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `list_dashboards` | List dashboards with filtering and search |
| `get_dashboard_info` | Get dashboard metadata and layout |
| `generate_dashboard` | Create a new dashboard with specified charts |
| `add_chart_to_existing_dashboard` | Add a chart to an existing dashboard |

### SQL

| Tool | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `execute_sql` | Run a SQL query with RBAC enforcement |
| `save_sql_query` | Persist a SQL query to SQL Lab's saved queries |
| `open_sql_lab_with_context` | Open SQL Lab with a pre-populated query |

### Databases

| Tool | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `list_databases` | List configured database connections |
| `get_database_info` | Get details about a specific database connection |

---

## Troubleshooting

### "Connection refused" or "Cannot connect"

- Confirm the MCP server URL with your admin
- For Claude Desktop: fully quit the app (not just close the window) and restart after config changes
- Check that the URL path ends with `/mcp` (e.g., `http://localhost:5008/mcp`)

### "Permission denied" or missing data

- Superset's RBAC controls what you can access through AI, just like in the Superset UI
- Ask your admin to verify your roles and permissions
- Try accessing the same data through the Superset web UI to confirm your access

### "Response too large"

- Ask for smaller result sets: use filters, reduce `page_size`, or request specific columns
- Example: "Show me the top 10 rows from the sales dataset" instead of "Show me all sales data"

### AI doesn't see Superset tools

- Verify the connection in your AI client (e.g., the hammer icon in Claude Desktop)
- Ask the AI "What Superset tools are available?" to confirm the connection
- Restart your AI client if you recently changed the configuration