Combined Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA) release notes for upgrades from Yokohama to Zurich

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated August 11, 2026
  • 9 minutes to read
    • Summarize
    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 Combined Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA) Release Notes for Upgrades from Yokohama to Zurich

    This consolidated guide covers the key updates, new features, changes, and important upgrade information for Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA) from the Yokohama release through to Zurich. It is designed to help ServiceNow customers understand what enhancements are available, how to prepare for upgrades, and how to leverage the new capabilities in enterprise architecture management.

    Show full answer Show less

    Key Features

    • Enterprise Architecture Diagramming AI Agent (Yokohama Patch 1): Enables creation and summarization of Enterprise Modeling and Visualization diagrams for business application hierarchies.
    • Architectural Decision Records (ADR) Summarization (Yokohama Early Availability): Now Assist can summarize ADRs within the Enterprise Architecture Workspace to clarify infrastructure decisions.
    • Virtual Agent Integration: Register business applications and digital integrations interactively using generative AI through Now Assist in Virtual Agent.
    • Diagram Comparison (Zurich): Compare Enterprise Modeling and Visualization diagrams with previous versions to analyze changes in business application hierarchies, capability maps, and process maps.
    • Refine Text Skill (Zurich): Elaborate or shorten descriptions and reasoning fields across key records such as business applications, capabilities, processes, value streams, and information objects.
    • Business Application Insights Skill (Zurich): Generate concise, actionable insights into business applications to facilitate better decision-making without manual data review.
    • Security Enhancements: Implement access control lists (ACLs) to manage AI agent and agentic workflow execution securely, controlling user and AI user identities.
    • Role Restrictions: Default roles are now associated with key Now Assist skills (e.g., Diagram change analysis, ADR summarization, Business Application Insights) to enhance security and access control.
    • Third-Party AI Model Integration: Support for Google Gemini and AWS Claude as additional AI providers alongside Now LLM Service and Azure OpenAI, enhancing flexibility in AI model selection.
    • Role Masking (Zurich Patch 4): Allows users to limit roles and privileges of agentic workflows during execution, ensuring compliance with security policies.
    • Automatic Skill Activation: Certain Now Assist skills, agents, and workflows are enabled by default for new installations and upgrades, improving out-of-the-box usability.
    • Enhanced User Experience: Introduction of Coral as the default theme for portal, web, and mobile experiences to improve productivity and interface consistency.

    Key Changes

    • Usage Measurement Transition: Starting with Yokohama Patch 5 and continuing in Zurich Patch 5, Now Assist usage measurement shifted from a 365-day look-back model to a 365-day burn-down model, resetting at the contract anniversary date, providing clearer usage tracking aligned with contracts.
    • Default Activation Behavior: New customers have designated skills and workflows enabled automatically upon installation. Upgrading customers will have previously unconfigured skills turned on unless they were explicitly deactivated.
    • Security and Role Configuration: Additional role configurations are required for agentic workflows and AI agents to align with updated security controls and data access settings.

    Upgrade Preparation and Activation

    • Review pre- and post-upgrade tasks to ensure a smooth transition to Zurich.
    • Activation of Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA) requires the corresponding plugin and an Enterprise Architecture Pro plus license.
    • The plugin activation process remains consistent from Yokohama to Zurich.

    Additional Information

    • No features or functionality were removed or deprecated between Yokohama and Zurich releases.
    • There are no changes to browser requirements, accessibility, or localization noted for these releases.

    Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

    • Streamline enterprise architecture documentation and analysis with AI-powered summarization and diagram comparison tools.
    • Enhance decision-making with automated business application insights and refined textual content generation.
    • Improve security by leveraging ACLs and role-based access controls tailored for AI agents and workflows.
    • Benefit from integration with multiple AI model providers, allowing flexibility and scalability in AI capabilities.
    • Experience improved user interfaces and default feature activations to reduce setup time and boost productivity.

    Consolidated page of all release notes for Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA) from Yokohama to Zurich.

    How to use this page

    To help you prepare for your upgrade, we have combined the cross-family Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA) release notes onto one page. Read this summary of the new features, changes, and updated information for your product from Yokohama to Zurich.

    Tip:
    If there were no updates for a release notes section in a certain family release, we included a short note for your reference. For example, if a product did not have any updates in Tokyo, the row says "No updates for this release."

    Important information for upgrading Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA) to Zurich

    Before you upgrade to Zurich, review these pre- and post-upgrade tasks and complete the tasks as needed.

    Release Release notes

    Yokohama

    		 No updates for this release.

    Zurich

    		 No updates for this release.

    New features

    Between your current release family and Zurich, new features were introduced for Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA).

    Release Release notes

    Yokohama
    Yokohama Patch 1 Using Enterprise Architecture Diagramming AI agent
    Use the Enterprise architecture diagrams AI agent to create Enterprise Modeling and Visualization diagrams for business applications hierarchy and summarize them.
    Yokohama Early Availability Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA)
    • Use the ServiceNow® Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA) application to summarize Architectural Decision Records (ADR) in the Enterprise Architecture Workspace. Use the Architectural Decision Records (ADR) to explain your infrastructure. ADR is a type of artifact that helps you to understand the background of a specific architectural decision.
    • Register a business application and a digital integration with an interactive generative AI experience using Now Assist in Virtual Agent. For more information, see Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA).

    Zurich
    Compare Enterprise Modeling and Visualization diagrams

    Learn the details of the changes in the Enterprise Modeling and Visualization diagrams by comparing a diagram with its previous version. You can compare business application hierarchy, business capability map, and business process map diagrams.

    Elaborate or shorten content in form fields
    Elaborate or shorten text in the Description field of the following records using the Refine text Now Assist skill:
    • Business application
    • Business capability
    • Business process
    • Value stream stages
    • Information object
    Also, generate, elaborate, or shorten text in the Reasoning field in the Planned Disposition section of the business application record.
    Business Application Insights skill configuration changes

    For the Business application insights Now Assist skill, you can view the business application source fields based on which the business application insights are generated. Also, you can determine the availability of the skill by defining a specific criteria in the Define access tab of the Business application insights skill.

    Role restrictions for Now Assist for EA skills
    Role restriction is added to the default roles associated with the following skills:
    • Diagram change analysis
    • ADR Doc Summarization and Actions
    • Business application insights
    • Refine text
    Business Application Insights skill
    Learn the details of business applications and gather concise and actionable insights on business applications from the summary that is generated by Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA). The business application insights help you to make informed decisions without manually reviewing large volumes of data.
    Implement access control lists for security in AI agents
    Enable security implementation to execute AI agents and agentic workflows through access control lists (ACLs) and user identities.

    ACLs provide you with the capability to run AI agents and agentic workflow executions either as a dynamic user or an AI user.

    To learn about ACLs for Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA) agents and skills, see Configure and Generate enterprise architecture diagram agentic workflow.

    Generate a summary of the Architectural Decision Records (ADR) document or get a particular information from the document
    On the Architectural Decision Records page, use the field option in the Now Assist menu to derive a particular information about the ADR content.
    New third-party AI model provider options available for all Now Assist applications
    Google Gemini and AWS Claude are available for Now Assist skills and AI agents in addition to Now LLM Service and Azure OpenAI.

    Changes

    Between your current release family and Zurich, some changes were made to existing Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA) features.

    Release Release notes

    Yokohama
    Yokohama Patch 11
    Changes to Now Assist usage measurement
    Starting with Yokohama Patch 5, Now Assist usage measurement is transitioning from a 365-day look-back model to a 365-day burn-down model, with usage resetting at the contract anniversary date. For more information, refer to KB KB2704710: Now Assist Usage - Overview & New Measurement Logic.
    Some Now Assist skills are turned on by default
    The new default behavior works as follows:
    • New customers: When you install a Now Assist product, designated skills are turned on automatically.
    • Existing customers who are upgrading (starting with Yokohama Patch 11): Any previously unconfigured skill is turned on automatically (the skill was never configured and turned on, then turned off again). Previously configured skills that were turned on, then off, remain inactive.

    Zurich
    Zurich Patch 5
    Changes to Now Assist usage measurement
    Starting with Zurich Patch 5, Now Assist usage measurement is transitioning from a 365-day look-back model to a 365-day burn-down model, with usage resetting at the contract anniversary date. For more information, refer to KB KB2704710: Now Assist Usage - Overview & New Measurement Logic.
    Zurich Patch 4
    Role masking

    Role masking enables users to limit the roles and privileges of agentic workflows during tool execution. Agentic workflows and their AI agents that get installed with Now Assist applications are assigned pre-defined roles. If you select Users with specific roles for user access, you must configure the security controls to include these roles. Data access settings must also include these roles. For the instructions to change the security controls, see Define security controls for an agentic workflow.

    Some Now Assist skills, agents, and agentic workflows are turned on by default
    The skills are automatically available to appropriate role users for the application, such as ITIL roles on incident forms or change forms. This change simply activates the skill and does not touch the roles that may be needed to use the skill. The new default behavior works as follows:
    • New customers: When you install a Now Assist product, designated skills and agentic workflows are turned on automatically.
    • Existing customers who are upgrading (starting with Zurich Patch 4): Any previously unconfigured skill, agent, or agentic workflow is turned on automatically (the AI asset was never configured and turned on, then turned off again). Previously configured skills and agentic workflows that were turned on, then off, remain inactive.

    Removed

    Between your current release family and Zurich, some Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA) features or functionality were removed.

    Release Release notes

    Yokohama

    		 No updates for this release.

    Zurich

    		 No updates for this release.

    Deprecations

    Between your current release family and Zurich, some Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA) features or functionality were deprecated.

    Release Release notes

    Yokohama

    		 No updates for this release.

    Zurich

    		 No updates for this release.

    Activation information

    Review information on how to activate Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA).

    Release Release notes

    Yokohama

    Now Assist features are available with activation of the Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA) plugin. The Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA) application requires an Enterprise Architecture Pro plus license. For more information, see Install Now Assist plugins.

    Zurich

    Now Assist features are available with activation of the Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA) plugin. For more information, see Install Now Assist plugins.

    Additional requirements

    If any additional requirements were introduced or changed for Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA) we have noted them here.

    Release Release notes

    Yokohama

    		 No updates for this release.

    Zurich

    		 No updates for this release.

    Browser requirements

    If any specific browser requirements were introduced or changed for Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA) we have noted them here.

    Release Release notes

    Yokohama

    		 No updates for this release.

    Zurich

    		 No updates for this release.

    Accessibility information

    Review details on accessibility information for Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA), such as specific requirements or compliance levels.

    Release Release notes

    Yokohama

    		 No updates for this release.

    Zurich

    Localization information

    If there are specific localization considerations for Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA) we have noted them here.

    Release Release notes

    Yokohama

    		 No updates for this release.

    Zurich

    		 No updates for this release.

    Highlight information

    If there are specific highlight considerations for Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA) we have noted them here.

    Release Release notes

    Yokohama
    Yokohama Patch 11
    • Review changes to Now Assist usage measurement.
    • Some Now Assist skills, agents, and agentic workflows are on by default.
    • Additional role configuration is required for agentic workflows and AI agents included with Now Assist applications.

    Yokohama Patch 1: Generate and summarize Enterprise Modeling and Visualization diagrams for business applications hierarchy, using the Enterprise architecture diagrams AI agent.

    Yokohama Early Availability
    • Generate a summary of Architectural Decision Records (ADR) in the Enterprise Architecture Workspace.
    • Request a business application or a digital integration using Now Assist in ServiceNow® Virtual Agent.

    See Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA) for more information.

    Zurich
    Zurich Patch 5
    • Review changes to Now Assist usage measurement.
    Zurich Patch 4
    • All Now Assist for EA skills are activated by default.

    • Use the Diagram change analysis Now Assist skill to compare an Enterprise Modeling and Visualization diagram with its previous version and generate a summary of the differences.

    • Use the Refine text Now Assist skill to elaborate or shorten text in the Description field of the business application, business capability, business process, and information object records. Also, use this skill to generate, elaborate, or shorten text in the Reasoning field under the Planned Disposition section of the business application record.

    • Additional role configuration is required for agentic workflows and AI agents included with Now Assist applications.
    • Use the Business Application Insights Now Assist skill to generate insights into your business applications.
    • Implement security in Now Assist AI agents with access control lists (ACLs).
    • On the Architectural Decision Records page, use the field in the Architectural Decision Records menu to enter queries and derive the required information from the Architectural Decision Records (ADR) artifact content.
    Zurich Patch 1
    • Use the Business Application Insights Now Assist skill to generate insights into your business applications.
    • Implement security in Now Assist AI agents with access control lists (ACLs).
    • On the Architectural Decision Records page, use the field in the Architectural Decision Records menu to enter queries and derive the required information from the Architectural Decision Records (ADR) artifact content.
    Zurich Early Availability
    • Enhance your productivity by using the Now LLM Service or a supported third-party LLM with any Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA) skill or AI agent.
    • Enhance your user experience with Coral that is used as the default theme for new portal, web, and mobile experiences.

    See Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA) for more information.