You want to add new properties to a Notion database but typing each field name and selecting the correct property type manually takes time. Notion AI can generate multiple database properties at once based on a short description of the data you plan to store. This article explains how to use the AI-powered property generation feature, what it supports, and what its limits are.
Key Takeaways: Generate Database Properties with Notion AI
- Database property generation via AI: Describe your data in plain English and Notion AI creates multiple matching properties with correct types.
- Property type auto-detection: Notion AI selects types such as Text, Number, Select, Date, Email, Phone, and URL based on your description.
- Manual editing after generation: You can rename, delete, or change the type of any AI-generated property before saving.
How Notion AI Database Property Generation Works
Notion AI can analyze a short sentence you write and suggest a set of properties that fit the data you plan to store. For example, if you type “track employee contact info and department,” Notion AI might suggest properties for Name, Email, Phone, Department, and Start Date. The feature uses a large language model trained on common database schemas to guess the most useful fields and their types.
You must have a Notion AI subscription added to your workspace. This feature works on any Notion database: table, board, list, calendar, or gallery view. The AI does not access existing data in your database. It generates properties purely from the description you provide. You can accept all suggestions, edit them, or discard the entire batch.
The AI currently supports these property types: Text, Number, Select, Multi-select, Date, Email, Phone, URL, Checkbox, and Relation. It does not support Formula, Rollup, Created Time, Last Edited Time, Created By, Last Edited By, or File & Media properties. If your description implies a field that belongs to an unsupported type, Notion AI either substitutes a supported type or omits the field.
Steps to Create Database Properties Using Notion AI
- Open the database where you want to add properties
Navigate to the page containing your Notion database. Click anywhere inside the database to select it. The database toolbar appears at the top. - Open the Properties menu
Click the ellipsis icon (three dots) in the upper-right corner of the database toolbar. From the dropdown menu, select Properties. - Click Generate with AI
Inside the Properties panel, locate the Generate with AI button. It appears below the list of existing properties. Click this button to open the AI prompt field. - Enter a description of the data you want to track
Type a sentence that describes the information you plan to store in each row. Be specific. For example, write “Track project name, deadline, priority, and assigned team member” instead of “project info.” Click the Generate button or press Enter. - Review the suggested properties
Notion AI displays a list of proposed properties with their names and types. Each property appears in a card. You can rename a property by clicking the name field and typing a new name. You can change the property type by clicking the type dropdown and selecting a different type. - Add or remove individual properties
To remove a property from the batch, click the X icon on the right side of its card. To add a new property manually while still in the AI generation view, click the + Add property button below the cards. - Apply the properties to your database
When you are satisfied with the list, click the Add to database button. The new properties appear at the end of your existing property list. Existing rows remain unchanged; new properties display empty values until you fill them.
Common Mistakes and Limitations When Using Notion AI for Properties
AI generates too many or too few properties
If the AI adds more properties than you need, remove the extras using the X icon before clicking Add to database. If the AI generates too few properties, click the Generate button again with a more detailed description or add missing properties manually after applying the batch.
Notion AI does not support Formula or Rollup properties
The AI cannot create Formula, Rollup, Created Time, Last Edited Time, Created By, Last Edited By, or File & Media properties. If you need any of these, add them manually after the AI generation step. Open the Properties panel, click + Add a property, and select the type you need.
AI-generated property names may be inconsistent with your naming conventions
The AI chooses property names based on common patterns. If you prefer a different naming style, rename each property before applying. Click the name field inside the property card and type your preferred name.
Property type auto-detection is not always accurate
For example, if you write “track email address,” the AI correctly sets the property type to Email. But if you write “track contact email,” the AI might set the type to Text instead. After generation, check each property’s type in the dropdown and switch it if needed.
Notion AI Property Generation: Manual vs AI Method Compared
| Item | Manual Property Creation | AI Property Generation |
|---|---|---|
| Time to create 5 properties | 30-60 seconds | 10-15 seconds |
| Requires typing each name | Yes | No — describe once |
| Property type selection | Manual from dropdown | Auto-detected |
| Supports Formula and Rollup | Yes | No |
| Batch creation | One property at a time | Multiple properties at once |
| Requires Notion AI subscription | No | Yes |
Notion AI property generation saves time when you need to set up a new database quickly. Describe your data in one sentence, review the suggestions, and apply the batch. After generation, add any unsupported property types manually. For existing databases, you can also use AI to add properties by following the same steps — the AI ignores the current data and generates properties based only on your description.