Intellrise
How-to

Chat with your MySQL database

Updated 2026-10-07

Connect MySQL and ask it what you want to know: Intellrise writes the SQL against your real schema, draws the chart, pins it to a dashboard and, on Pro, emails the report on a schedule, in one place.

The free plan covers one database, so MySQL costs nothing to try. Pro, $29 a month, adds scheduled email reports and AI that learns what your columns mean; a team of five pays $100. Setup is a read-only user and a free AI key, a few minutes in all (AI key in a minute).

  1. 1

    Get your MySQL connection details

    You need the host, port (usually 3306), database name, username and password — as separate values, since Intellrise has nowhere to paste a whole connection URL. The form also asks for a schema and, optionally, a dbt target schema. On managed MySQL, copy them from the instance dashboard, and check whether the server refuses unencrypted connections: Intellrise connects to MySQL without an explicit SSL parameter, so that is worth knowing before you start.

  2. 2

    Create a read-only user (recommended)

    Create a dedicated read-only user: GRANT SELECT on the database to a new user. The analyst can then read to answer questions but can never modify data. The exact CREATE USER and GRANT statements are at intellrise.com/help/database-requirements — along with what happens if you skip it: when you connect, we ask MySQL what the account you handed us is granted and show you the answer, without blocking the connection.

  3. 3

    Create your account and add your AI key

    Sign up, then add an AI key. A free Google Gemini key takes about a minute to create (how).

  4. 4

    Add the MySQL connection

    Add a data source, choose MySQL, and enter host, port, database, user and password. There is no SSL switch in the form — MySQL is connected without an explicit SSL parameter, so your server decides. Click Connect: it saves the credentials encrypted and then immediately dials the server, so you get either “Connected — N tables found” or the exact error MySQL returned, right there on the form. A source that fails is still saved — correct it with the pencil icon and save again.

  5. 5

    Let the AI read and annotate your schema

    Let the analyst read and annotate your tables and columns. If you model with dbt, point it at your dbt schema so it recognises your fact and dimension tables.

  6. 6

    Type your first question

    Ask something like "Revenue by month for this year". On a question the analyst judges complex — a join, a query spanning two sources, several steps — it shows a readable plan and waits for you to approve it before running anything; on one it judges simple it runs first and shows you afterwards. Either way you get the same two controls on every answer: Show SQL gives you the exact query that produced the number, and Show table gives you the rows it returned with their count. That is how you check a figure instead of trusting it. Refine by chatting, then pin it to a dashboard or save it as a report.

Why connect MySQL instead of exporting

A static export goes stale the moment you download it, and when an assistant only ever sees that exported file it has to guess what your columns mean. A connected AI data analyst reads live MySQL data, shows you a readable plan before running anything on the complex questions (simple ones it runs first and shows you after), and saves what your fields mean against the source itself — so the next question already knows them, and answers stay current and consistent.

MySQL: things to know

  • If the connection times out, check that your MySQL host allows connections from the app and that any firewall/allowlist includes it.
  • Very large tables answer faster if you ask for a time range rather than "all time".

Example questions to ask your MySQL data

  • Revenue by month for this year
  • Top 10 products by units sold last quarter
  • New vs returning customers by week

Frequently asked questions

Yes — MariaDB speaks the MySQL protocol, so connect it the same way.

Related

The one-stop AI data analyst that knows your schema.

One place from question to finished work: the SQL, the chart, a dashboard your whole team can open, and a report that emails itself every morning. It learns what your columns mean, so nobody explains a field twice. Start free with one database plus Google Sheets, or take 14 days of Pro with no card.

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