Instead of clicking through forms, Maverick's AI chat lets you describe an entire project in plain language — phases, tasks, dates, successor links, and resource assignments — and builds the full Gantt chart in seconds. Follow these eight steps to get it right the first time.
1. Verify your AI provider is connected
AI chat requires a configured provider and model. Open Maverick settings and confirm that at least one AI provider is active and that a model is assigned. If you haven't connected a provider yet, you'll need to add your API key before the chat panel will accept project-creation requests. A 30-second check here prevents a frustrating dead-end mid-prompt.
2. Confirm your resources exist in Maverick
The AI assigns resources by exact name. Before writing your prompt, open the resource list and verify that every person, machine, or material you plan to reference is already in the system. If "Crew A" doesn't exist as a resource, the AI can't assign it. Add any missing resources before you start — it takes seconds and saves you a follow-up correction prompt for every missing assignment.
3. Open the AI Chat panel
Find the AI Chat panel in Maverick's main toolbar and open it. You type your request in the input field at the bottom. You don't need an existing project open — if your prompt includes "create a new project," Maverick creates one from scratch without touching anything else in your account.
4. Name the project and set the overall dates
Start your prompt with the project name in quotes and the overall start and finish dates. Use absolute dates — "June 2, 2026" — not relative terms like "next Monday." Absolute dates work the same way whenever you submit the prompt, regardless of the current date. Example: Create a new project called "Office Renovation" with a start date of June 2, 2026 and a finish date of September 26, 2026.
5. Define your subprojects as named phases
Group related tasks into phases by naming each subproject in the prompt. List the phase name, its date range, and the tasks beneath it. The AI maps named phases to subproject containers inside Maverick. You can have as many phases as the project needs — the structure in your prompt becomes the structure in the Gantt chart. Example: Add four subprojects — Phase 1: Planning (June 2–13), Phase 2: Design (June 16–27), Phase 3: Construction (June 30 – September 12), Phase 4: Closeout (September 15–26).
6. List tasks with start dates, finish dates, and durations
For each task, include the name in quotes, the start date, the finish date or duration in days, and which phase it belongs to. Providing both start and finish dates (instead of just a duration) gives the AI the precision it needs to place tasks correctly on the calendar, especially when phases overlap or tasks start mid-week. Example: Task: "Kickoff Meeting" — June 2, 1 day.
7. Name each successor by task name and link type
Successor relationships control task order. Refer to predecessors by their exact task name and specify the link type in parentheses. If you omit the link type, the AI defaults to Finish-to-Start (FS). For tasks with more than one predecessor, list each one. Example: Successor: Vendor Selection (FS). Or for a task that waits for two predecessors: Successors: Interior Design Concepts (FS) and Permit Applications (FS).
8. Assign resources by exact name and allocation percentage
Specify each resource's name exactly as it appears in Maverick, followed by the allocation percentage. If a task has multiple resources, list each one separately. Missing a percentage causes the AI to default to 100%, which can instantly over-allocate a resource. Example: Assign Sarah Mitchell at 100% and Tom Chen at 50%. After the AI creates the project, switch to the Resource Allocation bar chart to confirm no resource is in the red.