Yes, using Now Assist in AI Search will consume assists. It is a platform capability that is activated with one of the Now Assist for (ITSM, CSM, HR) products.
It sounds like you are asking about assist consumption with the virtual agent.
When you activate Now Assist for VA, that will call Now Assist for AI Search if you're answering questions. The response from the bot is a synthesized response from available content. The problem with answering your question directly is because NAVA assist consumption is calculated based on VA tasks- if you search, then get a synthesized response (yes, assists consumed here), then initiate a catalog request (assists are consumed here), then conversationally launch a VA topic ("I want to connect to a live agent"), those actions consume assists. Each VA conversation could consume varying assists, given the variability of AI tasks that a VA could perform.
Fulfillers and platform users can also use Now Assist in AI Search if it's activated on the Global Search or Workspace search inside the platform. Finally, Now Assist Panel also has a Q&A features - it's just a VA within the platform. If you activate a RAG search within an AI Agent (which you might also have with one of the delivered ITSM agents, you will also consume search assists.
Unfortunately, it's not a 1:1 in all scenarios and is very scenario-specific, as pointed out.
Hope that helps!
Tricia
