Build Agent release notes

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated August 3, 2026
  • 9 minutes to read
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    Summary of Build Agent release notes

    The ServiceNow® Build Agent application enables developers to create, edit, and deploy full-stack applications and metadata using a conversational interface. This powerful tool is integrated within ServiceNow Studio and supports a wide range of metadata types and AI models. The Australia release and subsequent patches bring significant enhancements, including expanded AI model support, improved testing automation, conversational handoff capabilities, and integration with external MCP servers.

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    Key Features

    • Conversational Development: Build and modify applications through natural language in ServiceNow Studio, with contextual launch support to reduce manual input.
    • Expanded Metadata and Model Support: Supports diverse metadata types such as flows, assignment rules, forms, Service Catalog configurations, email, knowledge base access, and more. Default AI models include Gemini 3.5, Google GPT 5.5, Anthropic Claude on AWS Sonnet 4.6, and Azure OpenAI GPT 5.4.
    • Automated Testing Enhancements: Test Agent within Build Agent automatically maintains and syncs Automated Test Framework (ATF) tests, including UI testing with Playwright-based validations. Users can enable prompts to generate tests after development actions and execute tests directly from the Build Agent chat panel.
    • Custom Skills and Rules: Define custom behaviors for Build Agent sessions by creating skills and rules that apply at instance, application, or user levels, ensuring consistent and tailored AI assistance.
    • Background Script Execution: Run and approve server-side scripts during app-building workflows, with review prompts showing script intent and scope.
    • Conversation Handoff: Seamlessly continue app development by transferring context and transcript data from ServiceNow Otto (formerly Now Assist) conversations to Build Agent within ServiceNow Studio.
    • MCP Server Integration: Connect Build Agent to external Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers for enhanced tooling and data source access directly in the build workflow.
    • Web Search and Content Fetching: Access public web content and retrieve URL-based data without leaving Build Agent, supporting better research and development.
    • Update Set Management: Track and merge changes from Build Agent and manual edits into consolidated update sets for checkpointing, rollback, and deployment.
    • File and Artifact Support: Upload various file types (images, documents, code) to describe build requirements and preview generated artifacts (tables, flows, scripts) before committing changes.
    • Licensing and Access: Build Agent features are available by default on the ServiceNow AI Platform, with three licensing tiers (Foundation, Advanced, Prime) governing access to AI assets and agent creation capabilities.

    Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

    • Accelerated Development: Conversational interface and AI assistance simplify application creation, reducing manual coding effort.
    • Improved Quality and Reliability: Automated test maintenance and UI validation tools ensure tests remain current and UI behaves as expected.
    • Enhanced Collaboration: Integration with ServiceNow Studio and the ability to hand off conversations from ServiceNow Otto improve workflow continuity and developer productivity.
    • Greater Flexibility: Support for multiple AI models and extensive metadata types allows tailoring solutions to specific organizational needs.
    • Streamlined Change Management: Consolidated update sets and checkpointing facilitate easier review, rollback, and deployment processes.
    • Secure and Isolated Development: Use of Developer Sandboxes with Build Agent provides protected environments with admin access for controlled app development.

    Getting Started

    Build Agent is active by default on the ServiceNow AI Platform and depends on ServiceNow Otto for Creator. To maximize benefits, customers should explore Build Agent within ServiceNow Studio, enable settings for test synchronization and UI testing as needed, and consider licensing tiers that align with their development goals.

    The ServiceNow® Build Agent application enables developers to create, edit, and deploy full-stack applications and metadata through a conversational interface. Build Agent was enhanced and updated in the Australia release, and its Now Assist features have been rebranded to ServiceNow Otto®.

    Build Agent highlights for the Australia release

    • Use Build Agent in ServiceNow Studio.
    • Work with additional Model Context Protocol (MCP) support.
    • Create apps and newly supported metadata in the global scope.
    • Choose from newly supported models.
    • Search external content without leaving Build Agent.

    See Build Agent for more information.

    New in the Australia release

    Australia Patch 5
    Automatic test maintenance
    Test Agent in Build Agent automatically updates or removes Automated Test Framework tests that are outdated as your application changes, keeping the test suite aligned with the current state of your code. UI tests don't run automatically during updates, because they can take additional time and interrupt the development flow. To automatically keep tests synced, you must enable the new Sync ATF tests with app setting in Build Agent.
    UI testing
    Generate comprehensive UI tests for applications you build with Build Agent. UI testing extends the existing functional test capability to cover browser-level interactions, such as multi-step page navigation flows. To run UI tests automatically on update, you must enable the Run UI ATF tests setting in Test Agent.
    Note:
    You can also prompt Build Agent to generate UI tests.
    Get prompted to test
    After each development action, Build Agent can prompt you to generate ATF tests for what you just built. Accept or decline the prompt at each step to keep test coverage in sync with your development work.
    Note:
    You must enable getting prompted to test in the Build Agent settings.
    SDK test execution
    Execute ATF tests from the ServiceNow SDK. Test execution and troubleshooting were previously available only in ServiceNow Studio and the ServiceNow IDE.
    Updated model support
    The following new models are supported for Build Agent:
    • Gemini 3.5 is now the default model for Google
    • GPT 5.5 is now the default model for Azure OpenAI
    • Opus 4.8
    Change model version in chat
    Change the AI model versions in Build Agent without navigating out to the table on the ServiceNow AI Platform.
    Define custom skills and rules
    Create custom skills and rules to control how Build Agent behaves during a session.
    • Custom rules are injected into the system prompt on every run, so Build Agent behaves consistently at the scope you choose.
    • Custom skills provide internal guidelines for specific tasks. You can apply skills and rules at the instance level, application level, or user level.
    Background script execution
    Run server-side scripts as part of app-building flows in Build Agent using the new run script and rollback script tools. Before a script runs, an approval prompt shows the generated script, its stated intent, and the target application scope so you can review the operation before approving.
    Conversation handoff to Build Agent
    Build applications by receiving context from ServiceNow Otto (formerly Now Assist) conversations and continuing work in Build Agent without repeating yourself. The full conversation transcript is attached to the session so you can reference details beyond the summary. Conversation handoff is available only in ServiceNow Studio.
    Use Build Agent in a sandbox
    Use Build Agent in Developer Sandboxes to isolate development and provide admin access to developers in a protected environment.
    View MCP tools per server
    View the list of tools available on each connected MCP server in the Build Agent settings panel.
    Knowledge base access metadata support
    Work with the knowledge base access metadata type in Build Agent.
    Australia Patch 4
    Web search tool
    Access public web content from Build Agent using two new search tools. Use the web search tool to find information on the public web, and use the web fetch tool to retrieve content from a URL that you supply.
    Consolidated update sets
    Track changes generated by Build Agent and manual edits in update sets for checkpointing and rollback. Update sets can be merged into a single update set before deployment. All changes to your application are captured in the same scope, making it easier to review what was modified and merge updates to other environments.
    Expanded metadata support
    Work with more metadata types in Build Agent, which now supports connection and credential alias, data lookup, playbooks, rest message/HTTP method, and user criteria.
    Australia Patch 3
    MCP server support in ServiceNow Studio
    Connect Build Agent to external MCP servers in ServiceNow Studio. Previously, MCP server connectivity was only available in the ServiceNow IDE.
    Additional MCP server integrations
    Integrate Build Agent with newly supported MCP servers.
    Access update sets from Build Agent
    View update sets created by Build Agent from within the chat panel in ServiceNow Studio. Each checkpoint includes a button that opens the relevant update set in a new tab.
    UI validation tool in ServiceNow Studio
    Validate user interface output during app creation with the UI validation tool in Build Agent, available in ServiceNow Studio.
    Search retrieval tool support
    Use the Search retrieval tool to enable agents to fetch and present relevant information from configured data sources in response to user queries. Agents can retrieve knowledge articles, catalog items, and other indexed content directly within the agentic workflow, reducing the need for users to navigate to separate search interfaces.
    Support for more file types
    Upload more types of files to Build Agent to describe what you want to build, including images, documents, and text and code files.
    Expanded metadata support
    Work with more metadata types in Build Agent, which now supports assignment rules, forms, and data policies.
    Australia Patch 2
    MCP Client integration
    Connect Build Agent to external MCP servers to bring tools and data sources directly into your build workflow. External resources participate alongside Build Agent on the ServiceNow AI Platform, which reduces the need to switch between tools and transfer data manually.
    Create agentic workflows, agents, and skills
    Turn business requirements into fully configured agents, skills, and agentic workflows for your custom applications. Build Agent inspects the existing tables, roles, business rules, and metadata in your app to create tailored in-app agents and tools.
    Test Agent for Build Agent
    Use Test Agent to execute Automated Test Framework (ATF) tests right from the Build Agent chat panel for test artifacts created in the same session. When tests fail, the generated tests and test results are saved in the standard ATF record tables and can be scheduled for continued regression testing for the app. If Test Agent modifies tests during troubleshooting, those changes are automatically saved to the test records.
    UI validation tool
    Validate user interface output during Build Agent app creation in the ServiceNow IDE using the integrated UI validation. UI validation runs Playwright-based UI checks on Cloud Runner and surfaces failures with diagnostic context directly in the Build Agent panel.
    Semantic search for instance artifact discovery
    Use semantic search in Build Agent to locate relevant instance artifacts, including tables, scripts, and business rules during build and edit tasks. Find files, applications, and knowledge on your instance based on meaning instead of exact keywords.
    Additional model support
    Choose the provider and model that fits your organizational needs in Build Agent, which now supports Anthropic Claude on AWS Sonnet 4.6 and Azure OpenAI GPT 5.4.
    Expanded metadata support
    Work with more metadata types in Build Agent, which now supports flows, Service Catalog configurations, inbound email actions, dictionary overrides, choice lists, condition builder query conditions, and enhanced Service Portal capabilities.
    Contextual launch for Build Agent
    Include context from ServiceNow Studio tabs and component preview screens when you open Build Agent. Context helps reduce the need to manually search for and specify context in the chat panel.
    Australia Patch 1
    ServiceNow product tiers
    The ServiceNow AI Platform now brings you a new AI experience with three licensing tiers available:
    • Foundation: AI basics to deliver insights
    • Advanced: AI to boost productivity across relevant use cases
    • Prime: Act autonomously with all AI assets, and create your own

    Depending on your license, you will have access to certain application features, generative AI skills, agentic workflows, and AI agents.

    Additional metadata support
    Work with more metadata types in Build Agent, which now supports email.
    Australia Early Availability
    Build Agent in ServiceNow Studio
    Access Build Agent in ServiceNow Studio to build apps conversationally in a consolidated development environment.
    Improved LLM support
    Use AWS Claude Opus 4.6 and Sonnet 4.5 in Build Agent for contextual conversations.
    New metadata support
    Work with more metadata types, as Build Agent now supports the following:
    • Email integration
    • List controls
    • Service Catalog items
    • UI components
    • UI policies
    • UI views
    • Workspaces

    UI changes

    Australia Patch 5
    Organized settings with tabs
    Find Build Agent easier now that the Settings panel has tabs: General, Skills, Rules, and MCP.
    Australia Patch 3
    New button prompt to add AI to an app
    A new Add AI button when you first open the Build Agent chat panel starts a guided conversation to help you define and generate a skill or agent.
    Note:
    You must have a ServiceNow Otto for Creator license for the new button to appear.
    Open Build Agent from ServiceNow Studio banner
    A new icon in the ServiceNow Studio application banner provides another way to access Build Agent.
    Australia Patch 2
    Generated artifact preview
    Preview generated tables, flows, and scripts that Build Agent creates in ServiceNow Studio so you can review and approve changes inline before saving or committing them to the application.

    Changed in this release

    Australia Patch 5
    ServiceNow Otto rebrand
    ServiceNow Otto is the new AI experience brand. This change is reflected in the name of ServiceNow products, including Build Agent. Your product entitlements remain unchanged. Check your entitlements to determine your access to specific features.
    Licensing change for in-app agents and skills
    Only users with Build Agent - Prime can create agents and skills.
    Australia Patch 4
    Improved checkpoint and update set management
    Build Agent handles checkpoints and update sets differently in the following ways:
    • Checkpoint 0 no longer creates an update set.
    • Checkpoint 1 is the base update set for all subsequent changes.
    • Update sets use human-readable naming.
    Enhanced semantic metadata search tool
    An updated semantic metadata search tool improves performance replaces the previous semantic search tool.
    Australia Patch 1
    Build Agent version parity for PDIs
    Personal development instances (PDIs) are now updated to match the latest Build Agent version, delivering a consistent experience across both personal and production-track instances. Developers testing and building on PDIs have access to the same capabilities available in production environments.
    Updated interaction limits
    To provide developers more room to iterate, the following Build Agent limits have been increased:
    • Build Agent (Trial): 100 prompts per instance per 30-day cycle
    • PDIs: 25 prompts per instance per cycle
    Note:
    Limits are per-instance, not per-user. Only submitted prompts contribute to the limit. Plan approvals are not counted.
    Australia Early Availability
    Support for global scope
    Build apps and metadata in the global scope.

    Activation information

    Build Agent is a ServiceNow AI Platform feature that is active by default.
    Note:
    Build Agent is dependent on ServiceNow Otto for Creator. For more information, see ServiceNow Otto for Creator release notes.

    Related ServiceNow applications and features

    ServiceNow Studio
    Use ServiceNow Studio to build, configure, and deploy custom ServiceNow apps from a single development environment.
    ServiceNow IDE
    Create and develop scoped applications in source code in an integrated development environment (IDE) on the ServiceNow AI Platform to improve collaboration across development teams and accelerate application development.
    ServiceNow Otto for Creator
    Access generative AI skills and AI agents that can help you develop on the ServiceNow AI Platform efficiently.
    Agentic development on the ServiceNow AI Platform
    Use vibe coding and ServiceNow agentic-assisted app building tools to describe your goals in natural language to generate full-stack applications, workflows, and integrations on the ServiceNow AI Platform.