Combined AI Search release notes for upgrades from Washington DC to Zurich

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated June 16, 2026
  • 18 minutes to read
  • Consolidated page of all release notes for AI Search from Washington DC to Zurich.

    How to use this page

    To help you prepare for your upgrade, we have combined the cross-family AI Search release notes onto one page. Read this summary of the new features, changes, and updated information for your product from Washington DC 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 AI Search to Zurich

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

    Release Release notes

    Washington DC

    Washington DC Patch 9:
    Washington DC:
    • When you upgrade to Washington DC, AI Search automatically updates your existing Genius Result configurations to use the new AI Search Genius Result Configuration form fields. This update procedure makes the following changes:
      • Removes existing Genius result answer type field values.
      • Migrates Genius result logic field values to the new AI Search request processor and AI Search response processor fields as appropriate.
    • After you upgrade your instance to Washington DC, AI Search retains the value that you previously set for the Boolean search operator to use when a search query includes multiple terms ( glide.ais.query.search_operator ) system property. To gain the benefits of the new enhanced query mode for multi-term searches, set this system property's value to AND then OR 2+ key terms. For details on AI Search system properties, see AI Search system properties.
    • Starting in Washington DC, the User [sys_user] table defaults to sorting indexed records by their sys_created_on dates instead of sorting them by their sys_updated_on dates. This change requires reindexing of the User table indexed source for AI Search, which can be time-consuming. When you upgrade to Washington DC from a previous family release, AI Search does not automatically reindex the User table indexed source. If you need to be able to search the latest configuration for user records, you can manually reindex the User table indexed source, which may take some time. Otherwise, AI Search will reindex individual User table records as they're updated until all records have been reindexed.

    Xanadu

    Xanadu Patch 3:

    Xanadu:

    After you upgrade to Xanadu from an earlier release, perform the following steps to add the Dashboards, data visualizations, and KPIs navigation tabs to global search results in AI Search for Next Experience:
    1. Update the AI Search for Next Experience ServiceNow Store application to version 4 or later. For update instructions, see Update an application.
    2. Commit the update set provided in the AI Search for Next Experience 4.0 PAR tables update sets (KB1644544) article in the Now Support Knowledge Base. To learn more about update sets, see System update sets.

    Yokohama

    When you upgrade to Yokohama from an earlier release, make knowledge block content searchable by reindexing all your indexed sources that include knowledge articles. For details on reindexing, see Index or reindex an indexed source or Index or reindex multiple indexed sources.

    Zurich

    After you upgrade to Zurich from an earlier family release, run full document crawls in all your external content connectors to update their semantic vector indexing field mappings.

    New features

    Between your current release family and Zurich, new features were introduced for AI Search.

    Release Release notes

    Washington DC

    (Washington DC Patch 9) Knowledge block content indexing
    When you index knowledge articles for search, AI Search now includes content from knowledge blocks to improve search recall.
    AND then OR 2+ key terms option for multi-term search queries
    Improve search performance for queries with two search terms using the new AND then OR 2+ key terms value for the Boolean search operator to use when a search query includes multiple terms ( glide.ais.query.search_operator ) system property. When this value is set, AI Search only performs automatic query resubmission if the search query includes more than two search terms after stop words are removed. AND then OR 2+ key terms is the default value for instances zBooted in Washington DC.
    Natural Language Query Genius Results
    Surface relevant search results from large source tables by adding Natural Language Query (NLQ) Genius Results to your AI Search applications. NLQ Genius Results interpret your searches using plain language to find source tables with relevant results. The NLQ Genius Result answer card displays the suggested source tables, combining results from Analytics Overview and CMDB table queries. You can preview records from each suggested table directly from the Genius Result answer card.
    Semantic vector search
    Find results that match the meaning and intent of your search terms. Semantic vector search is an alternate search mode that overrides the default lexical search mode. Now Assist in Virtual Agent uses semantic vector search to retrieve Catalog Items and topics. Now Assist in AI Search uses semantic vector search to find cached answers for Now Assist Q&A Genius Results.

    Xanadu

    (Xanadu Patch 9) Improve semantic search with third-party embedding models
    Use custom and third-party embedding models supported by the AI Search RAG application to generate more accurate and relevant semantic search results.
    (Xanadu Patch 3) Knowledge block content indexing
    When you index knowledge articles for search, AI Search now includes content from knowledge blocks to improve search recall.
    NLQ Genius Results support searching for multiple CMDB tables
    When your search includes terms that could match multiple CMDB tables, NLQ Genius Result answers display a drop-down list of potential CMDB table matches for each affected term. Use these drop-down lists to select the CMDB tables that you want to surface information for.
    Middle dot support for Japanese
    Increase search precision for Japanese phrases that include nakaguro (中黒, middle dot) characters. When indexing Japanese text or searching in Japanese, AI Search preserves individual terms separated by a nakaguro instead of merging them into a single term.

    Yokohama

    Yokohama Patch 11
    Improve search precision and contextual relevance with hybrid search
    Beginning with Now Assist in AI Search 15.0, customers with Now Assist in AI Search installed can enable the new hybrid search mode. Hybrid search combines keyword-based search with semantic understanding to deliver more accurate and relevant search results, with fewer zero-result searches.
    Yokohama Patch 3
    Improve semantic search with third-party embedding models
    Use custom and third-party embedding models supported by the AI Search RAG application to generate more accurate and relevant semantic search results.
    Yokohama Early Availability
    Limit the number of Task and Alert records indexed with indexed source guardrails
    Index guardrail settings restrict index size and increase search performance by limiting the number of Task and Alert table records indexed for search.
    Exclude search sources in a search profile from search result or Genius Result generation
    Tune your search results by configuring search source exclusion settings in your search profiles. You can exclude a search source from being used to generate regular search results, Genius Result answers, or both. When excluding a search source's records from Genius Result answer generation, you can also choose to exclude its attachments.
    Knowledge block content indexing
    When you index knowledge articles for search, AI Search now includes content from knowledge blocks to improve search recall. Administrators can disable indexing of knowledge block content if desired.
    Boost relevancy for search results that match synonyms from a synonym dictionary
    Define synonyms in a synonym dictionary and configure a result improvement rule to apply relevancy boosts (positive or negative) to search results that match any of those synonyms.
    Customize semantic indexing settings for indexed sources
    Customize semantic indexing settings for your indexed sources.
    Fuzzy numeric search
    Find records by their Number using numeric search terms like 23583, with no need to match alphabetical prefixes or leading zeroes.

    Zurich

    Zurich Patch 4
    Improve search precision and contextual relevance with hybrid search
    Beginning with Now Assist in AI Search 15.0, customers with Now Assist in AI Search installed can enable the new hybrid search mode. Hybrid search combines keyword-based search with semantic understanding to deliver more accurate and relevant search results, with fewer zero-result searches.
    Zurich Patch 1
    Improve semantic search with third-party embedding models
    Use custom and third-party embedding models supported by the AI Search RAG application to generate more accurate and relevant semantic search results.
    Zurich Early Availability
    Filter external content search results by language
    AI Search filters external content search results, displaying only results that contain content in languages relevant for the user's search. These languages include:
    • The search user's session language
    • The fallback language for the user's session language (if configured)
    • The language of the global fallback locale (if configured)
    Indexing support for variables in records on Catalog Item and child tables
    Index searchable content from Multiple Choice and Select Box variables in records on the Catalog Item table and tables that extend it.
    New display properties for Search Result EVAM cards
    Search Result EVAM cards include new customIcon, customIconSize, forceNewTab, and useAttachmentViewer properties that you can use to modify display settings and behavior for search results.

    Changes

    Between your current release family and Zurich, some changes were made to existing AI Search features.

    Release Release notes

    Washington DC

    Synonym matching and expansion retains terms defined as stop words
    When evaluating synonym matches and expansions, AI Search retains search query terms defined as stop words. This behavior helps ensure that synonym matches return consistent results no matter which version of a synonym a user searches for.
    Field changes on AI Search Genius Result Configuration form
    On the AI Search Genius Result Configuration form, the Genius result answer type choice field has been removed. The Genius result logic script field has been replaced with separate AI Search request processor and AI Search response processor script fields.

    Xanadu

    Facets display refinement filters in the search user's language
    When displaying reference field values as facet refinement filters, AI Search uses field value translations for the search user's language if available. If no translations are available for the user's language, AI Search uses translations for the system language.
    Late binding security implementation preserves correct click rank search signals
    When late binding security removes inaccessible results, click rank search signals correctly reflect the final result ordering.

    Yokohama

    Yokohama Patch 11
    Now Assist Multi-Content Response Genius Results
    If you have Now Assist in AI Search installed, Now Assist Multi-Content Response Genius Results are supported in global and workspace search. Activating Now Assist Multi-Content Response Genius Results in global or workspace search profiles overrides all other Genius Result configurations, so that global and workspace searches only display Genius Result answers from Now Assist Multi-Content Response Genius Results. Virtual Agent topic citations from Now Assist Multi-Content Response Genius Result answers in global or workspace search open the selected topic in the Now Assist panel so the user can continue their conversation on that topic.
    Search Suggestions
    Search administrators with the ais_admin granular admin role can access all Search Suggestions tables. Assign search administrators this role to eliminate needless propagation of full admin access.
    Gain insights into search behavior with a refreshed and updated Search Preview UI.
    Preview search query results using settings from a search application configuration or a search profile. Choose between keyword and hybrid search modes. Display search results as individual EVAM cards or as a JSON-format search query response object, with search and syntax highlighting. Review search query behavior and results and specify search query settings with the new Summary, Genius Results, Details, and Profile admin tools.
    Yokohama Patch 6
    Consumer-grade search experience for search portals
    The search results page for search portals has been revised to offer a more intuitive and consistent experience. Navigation tabs have been replaced with source facet buckets. All search results now open in a new browser tab, preserving your search in the existing browser tab. Facet buckets now show minimum search result counts, reflecting results removed by late binding content security. Search terms are no longer highlighted in search results.
    Consumer-grade search experience for global search and workspace search
    The search results page for global search and workspace search has been revised to offer a more intuitive and consistent experience. Navigation tabs have been replaced with source facet buckets. All search results now open in a new browser tab, preserving your search in the existing browser tab. Facet buckets now show minimum search result counts, reflecting results removed by late binding content security. A new glide.ui.ais.show_all_facets system property enables you to display facets from all sources when no source is selected. (The default behavior is to hide facets until a source is selected.) Search terms are no longer highlighted in search results.
    Sort facet buckets alphabetically
    Override the default sorting of facet buckets by their search result counts and display them sorted alphabetically by their labels.
    Improved display for grouped attachment search results
    When grouped with their parent search results, attachment search results now appear in collapsed form to save space. If a parent search result includes more than three grouped attachments, you can use the new Show more and Show less links to control how many attachments are visible.

    Zurich

    Zurich Patch 4
    Now Assist Multi-Content Response Genius Results
    If you have Now Assist in AI Search installed, Now Assist Multi-Content Response Genius Results are supported in global and workspace search. Activating Now Assist Multi-Content Response Genius Results in global or workspace search profiles overrides all other Genius Result configurations, so that global and workspace searches only display Genius Result answers from Now Assist Multi-Content Response Genius Results. Virtual Agent topic citations from Now Assist Multi-Content Response Genius Result answers in global or workspace search open the selected topic in the Now Assist panel so the user can continue their conversation on that topic.
    Search Suggestions
    Search administrators with the ais_admin granular admin role can access all Search Suggestions tables. Assign search administrators this role to eliminate needless propagation of full admin access.
    Gain insights into search behavior with a refreshed and updated Search Preview UI.
    Preview search query results using settings from a search application configuration or a search profile. Choose between keyword and hybrid search modes. Display search results as individual EVAM cards or as a JSON-format search query response object, with search and syntax highlighting. Review search query behavior and results and specify search query settings with the new Summary, Genius Results, Details, and Profile admin tools.
    Zurich Patch 1
    Consumer-grade search experience for search portals
    The search results page for search portals has been revised to offer a more intuitive and consistent experience. Navigation tabs have been replaced with source facet buckets. All search results now open in a new browser tab, preserving your search in the existing browser tab. Facet buckets now show minimum search result counts, reflecting results removed by late binding content security. Search terms are no longer highlighted in search results.
    Consumer-grade search experience for global search and workspace search
    The search results page for global search and workspace search has been revised to offer a more intuitive and consistent experience. Navigation tabs have been replaced with source facet buckets. All search results now open in a new browser tab, preserving your search in the existing browser tab. Facet buckets now show minimum search result counts, reflecting results removed by late binding content security. A new glide.ui.ais.show_all_facets system property enables you to display facets from all sources when no source is selected. (The default behavior is to hide facets until a source is selected.) Search terms are no longer highlighted in search results.
    Sort facet buckets alphabetically
    Override the default sorting of facet buckets by their search result counts and display them sorted alphabetically by their labels.
    Improved display for grouped attachment search results
    When grouped with their parent search results, attachment search results now appear in collapsed form to save space. If a parent search result includes more than three grouped attachments, you can use the new Show more and Show less links to control how many attachments are visible.

    Removed

    Between your current release family and Zurich, some AI Search features or functionality were removed.

    Release Release notes

    Washington DC

    No updates for this release.

    Xanadu

    No updates for this release.

    Yokohama

    No updates for this release.

    Zurich

    No updates for this release.

    Deprecations

    Between your current release family and Zurich, some AI Search features or functionality were deprecated.

    Release Release notes

    Washington DC

    Starting with the Now Assist in AI Search 8.0 release, the External Content Q&A Genius Results feature is being prepared for future deprecation. It will continue to be supported until it is deprecated. For details, see the Deprecation Process [KB0867184] article in the Now Support Knowledge Base.

    Xanadu

    Starting with the Now Assist in AI Search 8.0 release, the External Content Q&A Genius Results feature is being prepared for future deprecation. It will continue to be supported until it is deprecated. For details, see the Deprecation Process [KB0867184] article in the Now Support Knowledge Base.

    Yokohama

    Starting with the Now Assist in AI Search 8.0 release, the External Content Q&A Genius Results feature is being prepared for future deprecation. It will continue to be supported until it is deprecated. For details, see the Deprecation Process [KB0867184] article in the Now Support Knowledge Base.

    Zurich

    No updates for this release.

    Activation information

    Review information on how to activate AI Search.

    Release Release notes

    Washington DC

    AI Search is a ServiceNow AI Platform feature that is active by default.

    Xanadu

    AI Search is a ServiceNow AI Platform feature that is active by default.

    Yokohama

    AI Search is a ServiceNow AI Platform feature that is active by default.

    Zurich

    AI Search is a ServiceNow AI Platform feature that is active by default.

    Additional requirements

    If any additional requirements were introduced or changed for AI Search we have noted them here.

    Release Release notes

    Washington DC

    No updates for this release.

    Xanadu

    No updates for this release.

    Yokohama

    No updates for this release.

    Zurich

    No updates for this release.

    Browser requirements

    If any specific browser requirements were introduced or changed for AI Search we have noted them here.

    Release Release notes

    Washington DC

    AI Search does not support Internet Explorer.

    Xanadu

    AI Search doesn’t support Internet Explorer.

    Yokohama

    AI Search doesn’t support Internet Explorer.

    Zurich

    AI Search doesn’t support Internet Explorer.

    Accessibility information

    Review details on accessibility information for AI Search, such as specific requirements or compliance levels.

    Release Release notes

    Washington DC

    No updates for this release.

    Xanadu

    No updates for this release.

    Yokohama

    No updates for this release.

    Zurich

    Localization information

    If there are specific localization considerations for AI Search we have noted them here.

    Release Release notes

    Washington DC

    AI Search supports international languages. For details of language support by feature, see Internationalization support.

    Xanadu

    AI Search supports international languages. For details of language support by feature, see Internationalization support.

    Yokohama

    AI Search supports international languages. For details of language support by feature, see Internationalization support.

    Zurich

    AI Search supports international languages. For details of language support by feature, see Internationalization support.

    Highlight information

    If there are specific highlight considerations for AI Search we have noted them here.

    Release Release notes

    Washington DC

    Washington DC Patch 9:
    • Expand search recall by indexing content from knowledge blocks.
    Washington DC:
    • Display concise, actionable answers for plain language searches using Natural Language Query Genius Results.
    • Increase search performance by skipping automatic query resubmission for searches with two search terms.
    • Improve recall and consistency for synonym searches by retaining search terms defined as stop words.

    See AI Search for more information.

    Xanadu

    Xanadu Patch 3:
    • Expand search recall by indexing content from knowledge blocks.
    Xanadu:
    • Surface information across multiple CMDB tables with NLQ Genius Results.
    • Increase search precision for Japanese phrases that include nakaguro (中黒, middle dot) characters.
    • Scroll through multiple Genius Result answer cards in a carousel to select the most actionable answer for your question.

    See AI Search for more information.

    Yokohama

    Yokohama Patch 11
    • Improve search precision and contextual relevance with hybrid search, available for customers with Now Assist in AI Search installed.
    • Gain insights into search behavior with a refreshed and updated Search Preview UI.
    Yokohama Patch 6
    • Search more intuitively with an updated, consumer-grade user experience in search portals, global search, and workspace search.
    Yokohama Early Availability
    • Restrict index size and increase search performance with guardrails that limit the number of Task and Alert table records indexed for search
    • Customize the semantic vector search experience by configuring semantic indexing settings for your indexed sources
    • Improve the focus of search results by excluding search sources in a search profile from being used to generate search results or Genius Result answers
    • Expand search recall by indexing content from knowledge blocks
    • Highlight important search results by boosting relevancy for results that match synonyms in a synonym dictionary

    See AI Search for more information.

    Zurich

    Zurich Patch 4
    • Improve search precision and contextual relevance with hybrid search, available for customers with Now Assist in AI Search installed.
    • Gain insights into search behavior with a refreshed and updated Search Preview UI.
    Zurich Patch 1
    • Search more intuitively with an updated, consumer-grade user experience in search portals, global search, and workspace search.
    Zurich Early Availability
    • Improve search precision by displaying external content search results in languages configured for the user's search session.
    • Increase search recall by indexing searchable content and metadata from Multiple Choice and Select Box variables in records on the Catalog Item table and its child tables.

    See AI Search for more information.