Who should use this guide

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated March 12, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Who should use this guide

    This guide provides a comprehensive overview of agentic development on the ServiceNow AI Platform. It explains the spectrum of AI-assisted development approaches available, from fully automated code generation to collaborative workflows that combine AI assistance with developer oversight.

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    Intended Audience

    The guide is designed for ServiceNow developers who want to leverage AI to accelerate and enhance app development on the ServiceNow platform. This includes:

    • Developers new to ServiceNow but experienced in full-stack development, interested in understanding ServiceNow’s AI capabilities and how AI can integrate into development workflows.
    • Experienced ServiceNow developers seeking to incorporate AI tools into existing practices for improved development speed and efficiency.

    Note: Using Build Agent requires the admin role.

    What You Will Learn

    The guide explains the range of agentic development approaches:

    • Autonomous code generation: AI generates, tests, and deploys code based on high-level descriptions with minimal manual intervention, prioritizing speed and simplicity.
    • Collaborative agentic development: AI assists by suggesting code and automating repetitive tasks, while developers retain control by reviewing and refining the code to ensure maintainability.

    It helps you understand which AI tools fit your development philosophy and use case, and offers general guidelines for effectively reviewing and testing AI-generated code.

    What Is Not Covered

    This guide does not cover low-code/no-code tools like Creator Studio or Catalog Builder, traditional non-AI ServiceNow development, or detailed product-specific documentation. Separate documentation is available for Build Agent, ServiceNow Otto for Creator, and other tools.

    Considerations for Your Use Case

    When exploring agentic development, evaluate your:

    • Technical expertise: Comfort with IDEs and reviewing generated code versus preference for simpler, more automated tools.
    • Development philosophy: Desire to understand and maintain AI-generated code versus delegating implementation details to AI.
    • Specific use case: Whether building custom applications, extending existing ServiceNow functionality, or automating workflows.

    This guide assists you in selecting the appropriate AI development approach tailored to your technical skills, goals, and project needs.

    This guide provides a holistic view of agentic development on the ServiceNow AI Platform. It helps you understand the range of agentic development approaches available, from fully automated code generation to agentic development workflows.

    Intended audience

    This guide is for a range of people building apps agentically on the ServiceNow AI Platform. The intended audience is:
    • ServiceNow developers who want to use AI to accelerate app development on ServiceNow. You may be:
      • New to ServiceNow but experienced with full-stack development
      • Familiar with agentic coding tools and wanting to understand the capabilities of the ServiceNow AI Platform
      • Looking to evaluate how AI can fit into your development workflow
      • Interested in understanding when to use different AI development approaches
    • ServiceNow developers who want to incorporate AI into their existing workflows. You may be:
      • Experienced with the ServiceNow platform and wanting to explore AI tooling
      • Looking to improve development speed and efficiency
      • Seeking guidance on general guidelines for agentic development
      • Evaluating which AI tools best fit your use case
    Note:
    Build Agent requires the admin role.

    What this guide covers

    Agentic development encompasses a spectrum of approaches:
    • Autonomous code generation: At one end of the spectrum, agentic development involves providing a high-level description and letting AI generate, test, and deploy code without manual review. This approach prioritizes speed and simplicity.
    • Agentic development: At the other end of the spectrum, AI serves as a collaborative tool that generates code suggestions, automates repetitive tasks, and accelerates development, while developers review, refine, and maintain ownership of the final code. This approach emphasizes understanding and supportability.

    ServiceNow provides tools across the development spectrum. This guide helps you understand:

    • What AI development capabilities are available on ServiceNow
    • Which tools align with your development philosophy and use case
    • How to effectively use AI in your ServiceNow development workflow
    • General guidelines for reviewing, refining, and testing AI-generated code

    What this guide does not cover

    This guide focuses on agentic development tools and workflows. It does not cover the following topics:

    • Low-code/no-code development tools like Creator Studio or Catalog Builder
    • Traditional ServiceNow development without AI assistance
    • Detailed product-specific documentation (links are provided to dedicated product docs)

    For comprehensive product documentation, see the dedicated documentation for Build Agent, ServiceNow Otto for Creator, and other ServiceNow development tools.

    Understanding your needs

    As you explore this documentation, consider the following questions:
    • Your technical expertise: Are you comfortable working in an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) with a file system and reviewing generated code? Or do you prefer tools that handle more of the technical complexity?
    • Your development philosophy: Do you want to understand and maintain the code AI generates, or do you prefer to let AI handle implementation details while you focus on outcomes?
    • Your use case: Are you building custom applications from scratch, extending existing ServiceNow functionality, or automating specific workflows?

    Different AI development approaches and tools will be better suited to different needs. This guide helps you identify the right approach for your situation.