--- sourceDocument: Australia Conversational Interfaces sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/conversational-interfaces Release : - australia ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Australia Conversational Interfaces ft:clusterId : - convint bundleId : - convint workflow : - Platform --- # Getting started with the Asset library in Assistant Designer # Getting started with the Asset library in Assistant Designer {#ariaid-title1} * Release version: Australia * * Updated March 24, 2026 * * ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 9 minutes to read Summarize ![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. ## Summary of Getting started with the Asset library in Assistant Designer The Assistant Designer Asset library in ServiceNow provides a comprehensive diagram tool for creating and managing assets that define Virtual Agent conversations. These assets include topics, topic blocks, setup topics, small talk topics, custom controls, subflows, actions, and AI agents. Using these, you can design conversational workflows that help users resolve work issues or complete self-service tasks efficiently. Show full answer Show less The Asset library supports both Natural Language Understanding (NLU) and large language model (LLM) methods to match user requests with appropriate conversations. If ServiceNow Otto is installed, LLM-based topic discovery and generative AI skills are available for enhanced conversation matching and deflection rates. ## Key Features * **Asset management:** View, create, edit, test, preview, and publish various Virtual Agent assets including topics, subflows, actions, custom skills, and AI agents. * **Conversational subflows and actions:** Available when ServiceNow Otto is configured, enabling modular conversation components manageable within Assistant Designer. * **Topic discovery methods:** Supports LLM topic discovery with generative AI via ServiceNow Otto and NLU/keyword-based discovery integrated with NLU Workbench for intent mapping, training, and testing. * **Flexible topic design:** Build conversation flows visually using diagram or table views with controls for user inputs, bot responses, script variables, and entities. * **Multi-language support:** Manage translations and language mappings for activated languages, with testing and editing capabilities. * **Asset filtering and sorting:** Quickly search and organize assets by name, type, status, activity, description, and assistant association. * **Assistant integration:** Filter and associate assets with different assistants, including default ServiceNow Otto assistants, to control visibility and discoverability of AI agents and topics. * **Topic lifecycle management:** Create, duplicate, migrate (from NLU to LLM), test, debug, publish, and delete topics within a centralized interface. * **Promote and reorder LLM assets:** Configure which assets are suggested to users by the Virtual Agent and adjust their priority order. * **Condition builder for promoted assets:** Define conditions to prioritize promoted topics or subflows in panel conversations. ## Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers * **Streamlined conversation design:** Design, test, and deploy Virtual Agent conversations efficiently from a single interface, reducing development time. * **Improved user experience:** Utilize AI-powered topic discovery to better match user intents and increase self-service resolution rates. * **Scalable asset management:** Organize and maintain a large number of conversational assets with search, filters, and categorization by type and status. * **Multi-assistant support:** Manage assets across multiple assistants and control AI agent visibility to tailor Virtual Agent behavior to organizational needs. * **Localization support:** Expand Virtual Agent reach by managing translations and testing topics in multiple languages. * **Seamless migration:** Upgrade existing NLU/keyword-based topics to LLM technology to leverage generative AI improvements without rebuilding workflows. * **Enhanced troubleshooting:** Debug unexpected conversational behavior directly within Assistant Designer to maintain reliable Virtual Agent performance. The Assistant Designer Asset library includes a diagram tool for creating and managing assets, which are blueprints for conversations between a Virtual Agent and a user. You can design topics that help your users resolve common work issues or guide them through self-service tasks. Virtual Agent conversations are built using topics. When building an asset, there are various components (controls) that you can use to build the logic of a conversation, and the responses that the user sees. Note: Depending on your license, you will have access to certain application features, generative AI skills, agentic workflows, and AI agents. For more information, see [ServiceNow product tiers](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=ai-native-sku-overview&version=australia&pubname=australia-intelligent-experiences&ft:locale=en-US). You can also view and manage the following in Assistant Designer: * Conversational subflows and actions for LLM-enabled conversationsVirtual Agent conversations can include subflows and actions if they were made conversational in Workflow Studio or topics that include subflows and actions through the Action utility node. * Conversational subflows and actions are available in Assistant Designer only if ServiceNow Otto in Virtual Agent has been configured. * Conversational subflows and actions are also shown in Assistant Designer if the ServiceNow Otto Panel is available. For more information on the ServiceNow Otto Panel, see [ServiceNow Otto panel](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=now-assist-panel-overview&version=australia&pubname=australia-intelligent-experiences&ft:locale=en-US). * Conversational subflows and actions only appear to users during a conversation if the Subflows and actions skill is turned on in ServiceNow Otto Admin. For more information, see [ServiceNow Otto for Virtual Agent](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/fRJhtfRRIHaGBVwf2iScHA "Use generative AI skills in your conversational experiences. ServiceNow Otto for Virtual Agent uses large language models (LLMs) to create a natural-language conversational experience that can improve the success of your self-service workflows."). {#conversation-designer-virtual-agent__ul_qhz_z22_k2c} Note: Conversational subflows and actions aren't applicable to the Virtual Agent Designer legacy topic cards page view. * Custom skillsYou can view custom skills created in AI Skill Kit through Assistant Designer. For more information, see [Managing custom skills in Assistant Designer Asset library](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/dqhIvJx0mmE0H0flU0N7wA "View custom skills through Assistant Designer Asset library."). * AI agents You can view AI agents created in AI Agent Studio through Assistant Designer. For more information, see [Managing AI agents in Assistant Designer](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/iqeDXZY5NySy13Q8KkH5Pw "View AI agents created in AI Agent Studio through Assistant Designer."). {#conversation-designer-virtual-agent__ul_fdr_4d2_k2c} Virtual Agent can use either large language model (LLM) or Natural Language Understanding (NLU) to match the user's request with the appropriate conversation or topic. With LLM topic discovery, you can use generative AI through ServiceNow Otto in Virtual Agent to match the user's request with the desired conversation or topic. With ServiceNow Otto in Virtual Agent, you can test and publish your models from within Assistant Designer. ServiceNow Otto in Virtual Agent uses LLMs and generative AI skills to improve deflection rates. For more information, see [LLM topic discovery in Virtual Agent](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/4ZTKKoNkvTJqb_m0ZXG~5w "Large language models (LLMs) enable Virtual Agent to process user statements in plain language. Conversations that use LLMs can outperform those conversations that use Natural Language Understanding (NLU), with easier setup."). With NLU/keyword topic discovery, the topic author associates the topic with an intent within an NLU model. An intent describes what the user wants to achieve. User utterances are matched with intents to determine the most appropriate topic for the user. Associating a topic with a model and intent is called mapping. If you're using ServiceNow NLU/keyword topic discovery, then Assistant Designer integrates with NLU Workbench. You can then map topics to new or existing models and intents without leaving the interface. You can also modify utterances, test, train, and publish your models from within Assistant Designer Asset library. ## Assistant Designer Asset library {#conversation-designer-virtual-agent__section_ilk_bp5_22b} Note: An updated Assistant Designer Asset library user interface is available when you install ServiceNow Otto in Virtual Agent. This content assumes that you can see the list view. If ServiceNow Otto in Virtual Agent is not installed, you see the legacy UI and topics page. For more information, see [Virtual Agent Designer legacy topics page](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/eKqBAMdp0dJqYGORLs9Lhw "The Virtual Agent Designer legacy home page lists cards for available topics in your instance."). When you open Assistant Designer, the Asset library lists the assets in your instance. These assets include topics, topic blocks, setup topics, small talk topics, custom controls, subflows, actions, and AI agents. Note: Along with small talk topics, you can also set small talk filters to redirect conversations based on unexpected user statements. For more information, see [Configure small talk filters](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=configure-small-talk-filters&version=australia&pubname=australia-intelligent-experiences&ft:locale=en-US). In the Asset library, you can access and edit any of these assets, and create topics, topic blocks, setup topics, small talk topics, and custom controls, in Virtual Agent Designer Note: Conversational subflows and actions are available in Assistant Designer if ServiceNow Otto in Virtual Agent has been configured. Conversational subflows and actions are also shown in Assistant Designer if the ServiceNow Otto Panel is available. For more information on the ServiceNow Otto Panel, see [ServiceNow Otto panel](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=now-assist-panel-overview&version=australia&pubname=australia-intelligent-experiences&ft:locale=en-US). You can test and preview active topics to verify that they work as intended. You can also sort and search for topics. When you have many assets, use the search bar ![]() and filter icon ![]() to quickly organize and find your topics. For more information, see [Assistant Designer Asset library](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/WemRFLSDTyp4rw3zWqBYtw "The Asset library lists all LLM assets and NLU/Keyword topics in Assistant Designer. You can also create more topics, subflows, actions, custom skills, AI agents, and agentic workflows."). Each topic list entry identifies the asset and provides the following information by default:{#conversation-designer-virtual-agent__table_mjd_rzd_k2c__entry__2} | Field | Description | |-|-| | Name | Name of the topic. Template topics also contain (Template) in the name. | | Type | Topic types include Topic, Topic Block, Setup Topic, Small Talk, Custom Input Control, Custom Response Control, Subflows, and Actions. | | Status | Status types include Draft, Modified (with unsaved changes), or Published. | | Active | Whether the topic is active or inactive. | | Last modified | Time (minutes, hours, days, or months) that the topic was last modified. | | Description | Description of the topic. For topics, this field is created and updated on the Properties tab. | [ ] {#conversation-designer-virtual-agent__table_mjd_rzd_k2c} When you open a topic, a tab is displayed in the navigation header bar. The topic's name is shown on the tab, and a red dot appears if the topic has unsaved changes. Hover over the tab to view the scope in which the topic was created. ![Topic tab that displays the topic name, saved condition, and application scope.]() When you open a subflow or action, a tab is displayed in the navigation header bar. This tab opens the subflow or action in Workflow Studio within the Assistant Designer environment. ## Assistants {#conversation-designer-virtual-agent__section_syk_nfl_sfc} For LLM topics, the Select assistant list enables you to filter the assets based on the LLM Virtual Agent (assistant) selected. By default the following assistants are available for Assistant Designer Asset library: * ServiceNow Otto in Virtual Agent (default) * ServiceNow Otto Panel - Platform (default) For the ServiceNow Otto Panel - Platform (default) assistant, if you want AI agents to be Discoverable, Visible, or Promoted, set the Value field in the system property sn_aia.enable_aiagents_discovery to True. If the Value field is set to False, then AI agents can't be set as Discoverable, Visible, or Promoted. To enable this property, you must contact ServiceNow support. {#conversation-designer-virtual-agent__ul_alc_dgl_sfc} You can create assistants from Conversational interfacesAssistants. For more information about creating assistants, see [Create a chat assistant](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/hL1ApC7i3vwv2qnO8gZiCg "Create a chat assistant on your instance. Add basic details and set your assistant as a primary assistant."). For more information about LLM assistants, see [LLM assistants](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/QFpufmPSokBWmkJRMFJJfg "LLM assistants help with large language model (LLM) topic discovery. The ServiceNow Otto for Virtual Agent assistant is the default LLM assistant created during the Conversational Interfaces Assistants guided setup."). ## Topic properties {#conversation-designer-virtual-agent__section_xgg_4bk_spb} Use the topic Properties tab to identify a Virtual Agent asset and how it's used. The properties you can specify depend on the method of topic discovery used in your instance: LLM or NLU/keyword. For example, if you've activated ServiceNow Otto and are working with an LLM topic, the Properties tab includes fields for the topic function and which assistants to use. If you have activated NLU, you can select NLU/keyword from the Type drop-down menu when you create a topic. The Properties tab includes fields for identifying the NLU model and intent for the topic. Use the Properties tab to do the following: * Specify the name and type of asset, such as [topic](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/pgkFzTLQcACoaBJJwOjPSA "Use Assistant Designer Asset library to create and modify Virtual Agent topics (conversations). Build your topic to meet a specific objective or goal, such as fulfilling a user's request or helping a user complete a task."), [topic block](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/QHR6YS0UZ5vEvSnGmHttYw "Topic blocks are reusable components that you can create to run common tasks and conversational elements in Virtual Agent conversations. Topic blocks simplify the topic authoring and maintenance process by enabling you to reuse standard procedures or actions across conversation topics."), [custom control](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/Bz79ohPFqTsX401K5s~S7w "Custom controls are components that ServiceNow developers can create for use in Virtual Agent topics or topic blocks. Such controls include sliders or video players. Custom controls complement the controls provided in Virtual Agent Designer."), and so on. * Specify the model type, purpose of the topic, and which assistants can run this topic for ServiceNow Otto customers. * Specify the model type, add a topic description, specify the purpose of the topic, and select which assistants can run this topic for ServiceNow Otto customers. * Control who uses the topic and [what channels it can run in](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/Q1SBjuhJ7dzhewffLpZALg "Integrate and extend the capabilities of Virtual Agent by connecting to your employees and customers where they already are. They are engaged in web portals, Now Mobile apps, and collaboration tools such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, Facebook Messenger consumer app, Workplace enterprise messaging app, and any other popular chat or messaging app."). * Associate [live agent variables](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/auUlE1RZ6SBuydgrKzjiag "Use chat context variables to pass certain information from the topic to share with a live agent or to control how bot conversations are routed to live agents. Virtual Agent includes some default variables, and you can define new ones.") with a topic. * Add keywords to the topic or map the topic to a ServiceNow NLU model and intent. {#conversation-designer-virtual-agent__ul_dyr_1xb_wqb} For more information, see [Topic Properties tab](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/5FSBa6P1aem0PGL8DYmJkg "Use the Topic Properties tab to identify a topic and how it's used. You can control who uses the topic and what channels it can run in."). ## Topic flow {#conversation-designer-virtual-agent__section_x2g_h25_22b} When you create or update a topic, topic block, or custom control, you build the conversation flow on the Flow tab. In the default view, the flow looks like a diagram. Use the controls for user inputs, bot responses, and utilities to define the flow. The status of the topic and NLU/Keyword model (if used) appears in the upper-right corner of the window. The Table View option in Virtual Agent Designer displays the nodes in your conversation flow as a table, rather than as a diagram. Each node is identified in a corresponding row in the table. You can add, change, or delete nodes using these table rows. For example, instead of dragging controls and dropping them onto the canvas, you can select Add new node to insert a node into the appropriate row in the table. When you focus on a particular row (node), the corresponding property sheet for the node is displayed. As you create or update your design, you might find it helpful to switch between the diagram view and the Table View using the Table View option. If your conversation contains many nodes, the Table View lets you review all the nodes in your conversation quickly. You can use the Search table option to quickly find a particular node or control. Use the Flow tab to do the following: * Design your topic flow. For more information, see [Design the flow of your topic](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/bOAr4K9CGqCQHgIG2KNcKw "Walk through the design of an example Virtual Agent topic that enables users to view incidents they submitted. The example highlights various design controls that can be used to build the conversation flow."). * Add script variables. For more information, see [Define script variables for a topic](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/Jry1PMzY_Z7LublNb~eCCA "Use the Variables sidebar to define script variables for a topic. Script variables can store information that is not found in ServiceNow tables. This information can then be shared elsewhere in a topic."). * Add entities to your topic. For more information, see [Use system-derived entities in your topic](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/7T7VSbILcHA50W7omuSHTw "Associate system-derived entities such as such as date, time, duration, or location with a node in a topic."). * Add nodeless entities, if you're creating a topic for [Add nodeless NLU entities to your topic flow](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/0czOtLjtxkSCTZbborBXlg "You can add nodeless NLU entities as input variables to a topic if NLU is enabled for Virtual Agent. These variables can be slot-filled from NLU service provider predictions or provided outside of the scope of the topic."). {#conversation-designer-virtual-agent__ul_u5b_hwx_prb} For more information, see [Topic Flow tab](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/NQxJ8SZykanHQDoG9rD3UA "Use the topic Flow tab to build the conversation flow. Use the controls for user inputs, bot responses, and utilities to define the flow."). ## NLU model and intent mappings {#conversation-designer-virtual-agent__section_zx4_lvb_wqb} If you activated NLU on your instance, the NLU Intent tab is available for your topics in Virtual Agent Designer. Once you have bound the topic to a model and intent on the Properties tab, you can use the NLU Intent tab to do the following: * Review utterances used in your topic. For more information, see [Review and edit utterances and associated entities](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/cnkJMk25Etci63gaBlFXJw "View, test, and modify NLU utterances for a Virtual Agent topic on the NLU Intent tab in Assistant Designer Asset library."). * Train your NLU models. For more information, see [Train, test, and publish your NLU model](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/3ITr4ectfRv3ifwNfNhfiA "Use the NLU Intent tab to train and try a Natural Language Understanding (NLU) model that is mapped to a topic without leaving Assistant Designer Asset library."). Test the topic model with user utterances to see if it triggers the appropriate intent and topic. You can also test entity recognition. {#conversation-designer-virtual-agent__ul_gtg_frq_3pb} Note: The virtual_agent_admin role includes the nlu_admin role, which enables topic authors to work on ServiceNow models. For more information about this tab, see [Topic NLU Intent tab](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/Z3J5JN7NScYsTUY2Wtf7QQ "You can edit and refine ServiceNow NLU models from within Assistant Designer. When a conversation topic is bound to an associated NLU model and intent, use the NLU Intent tab to review and edit utterances and associated entities."). ## Topic languages {#conversation-designer-virtual-agent__section_zq1_qvb_wqb} The Languages tab displays the topic's translation status for languages that have been activated on the instance for both LLM and NLU conversations. If you're using NLU/keyword, you can also review the language mappings for that topic. Use the Languages tab to do the following: * View translation status for activated language plugins. * Test your topic with a given language. For more information, see [View and test the topic in a specific language](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/scYNsp3JhLefQqzWe7gJyQ "Test a translated Virtual Agent topic and the localized NLU model to ensure that it works as expected in a conversation."). * Edit translations. For more information, see [Edit the topic translations](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/0hxhp9aUMvSbFzyJYFtPeg "A Virtual Agent admin user can edit and publish translations directly in Assistant Designer Asset library."). * Request translations. For more information, see [Request topic translations in additional languages](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/QDcoC6Op11lvxAsXitfxog "Use the ServiceNow Localization Framework to manage the process of localizing Virtual Agent conversations and keywords."). * View and update NLU language and entity mapping. For more information, see [View or modify NLU language mappings and entity mapping](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/fWMZSBXr8RIMzrwTxpPNWg "Map a Virtual Agent topic to a secondary model in the model group or to a standalone, single-language NLU model for each supported language."). For more information, see [NLU model mapping in Virtual Agent Designer](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/GpyDoulyDruLh~u4R6MFYg "ServiceNow model groups help you to manage the localization of both topics and Natural Language Understanding (NLU) models more easily. You can map Virtual Agent topics to a new or existing model group directly from Virtual Agent."). {#conversation-designer-virtual-agent__ul_pkl_3tw_wqb} For more information about this tab, see [Topic Languages tab](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/JgUmnkweoi2kiszoVaj4nQ "Use the Languages tab to view the topic's translation status for languages that have been activated in Virtual Agent. If NLU is enabled on your instance, you can also view model mappings for each language."). * **[Designing a Virtual Agent topic](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/bOAr4K9CGqCQHgIG2KNcKw)** Walk through the design of an example Virtual Agent topic that enables users to view incidents they submitted. The example highlights various design controls that can be used to build the conversation flow. * **[Creating a Virtual Agent topic](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/pgkFzTLQcACoaBJJwOjPSA)** Use Assistant Designer Asset library to create and modify Virtual Agent topics (conversations). Build your topic to meet a specific objective or goal, such as fulfilling a user's request or helping a user complete a task. * **[Migrating NLU/keyword Virtual Agent topics to LLM topics](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/dqt_di~cgV0UehRopqhA7Q)** The topic migration workflow enables you to migrate your existing Natural Language Understanding (NLU)/keyword topics into new large language model (LLM) topics. * **[Duplicating a Virtual Agent topic](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/Zed3KxvoUDZItNujeBp3QA)** Create a topic or topic block by copying an existing Virtual Agent topic or topic block and customize it. * **[Testing assistants](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/lCH0z3ma6FUw94NIIAwluQ)** Simulate and test assistant conversations from Asset library. * **[Testing LLM topics](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/W9ige~Eqk2tnd2AdMk4cKw)** Preview, test, and debug topics that use large language models (LLMs) in the Assistant Designer chat window. * **[Testing NLU/Keyword topics](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/rjsdmOKqEUk2wIcYC7hAdw)** Use the chat test window to preview, test, and debug Natural Language Understanding (NLU)/Keyword topics. * **[Debug a Virtual Agent topic](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/kM5UjvzlIjMeEWrPlDhXBg)** Investigate and resolve unexpected behavior in your custom Virtual Agent topics, topic blocks, and controls. * **[Publish a Virtual Agent topic](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/LBVmSOsl0hXZiEDW~MBV8A)** Deploy an inactive topic or an updated topic to save it and make it available to users on Virtual Agent clients. * **[Delete a Virtual Agent topic](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/C70jKIf68Za8n09R0g51RA)** Delete a Virtual Agent topic that is no longer needed. * **[Promote or demote LLM conversational subflows, actions, and topics in Assistant Designer](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/FOlWceUPQrSsxWFsrcGw2w)** Promote assets including conversational subflows, conversational actions, and topics in Assistant Designer, after associating them with a large language model (LLM) assistant, to have them suggested to the user by the LLM assistant. * **[Reorder promoted LLM conversational subflows, actions, and topics](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/p390LeIQvDB3N1miKM7wFw)** Rearrange LLM assets like conversational subflows, conversational actions, and topics to the desired order after promoting them for recommendation by the Virtual Agent. * **[Conversational settings for assets in the Asset library](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/GT83sh8Ib1e4eCvtN6C1dw)** Manage asset settings from the Asset library for individual active assets. * **[Add a condition builder to promoted assets](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/WKDneJ4gioa_x8FBb5hlYA)** You can define a condition for a given promoted Virtual Agent asset to bring it higher up on the list of promoted assets in a panel conversation. * **[Managing conversational subflows in Assistant Designer](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/1PKEj4bikoR3DxiuaXahMA)** View and manage conversational subflows through Assistant Designer. * **[Managing conversational actions in Assistant Designer](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/QVaxUBvuo2Xnfn0HtwVuwQ)** View and manage conversational actions through Assistant Designer. * **[Managing custom skills in Assistant Designer Asset library](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/dqhIvJx0mmE0H0flU0N7wA)** View custom skills through Assistant Designer Asset library. * **[Managing AI agents in Assistant Designer](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/iqeDXZY5NySy13Q8KkH5Pw)** View AI agents created in AI Agent Studio through Assistant Designer. *[\>]: and then