--- sourceDocument: Zurich Workflow Data Fabric sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/zurich/integrate-applications Release : - zurich ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Zurich Workflow Data Fabric ft:clusterId : - crint bundleId : - crint workflow : - Creator --- # Create an activity with AI # Create an activity with AI {#ariaid-title1} * Release version: Zurich * * Updated July 31, 2025 * * ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 3 minutes to read Create activities from text instructions and preview options by using AI. Activities provide modularity to an automation project in RPA Desktop Design Studio. ## Before you begin Set up the RPA Desktop Design Studio application and add the ServiceNow instance details. For more information, see [Set up RPA Desktop Design Studio](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/bVOUMHzglAmC9spUxeBd5Q "Set up RPA Desktop Design Studio to add your ServiceNow RPA Hub instance details in Connection Manager and to start using the application."). To access the AI features in RPA Desktop Design Studio, perform the following steps: * Install the ServiceNow Otto for RPA Hub application to add the generative AI capability. For more information, see [Install ServiceNow Otto for RPA Hub](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/yA8QlKYQJ_EDC~bclOwH8w "If you have the admin role, you can install the ServiceNow Otto for RPA Hub application so that your human agents or users can get started with developing automations faster."). * Turn on the RPA bot generation skill to use the generative AI capability. For more information, see [Turn on the RPA bot generation skill](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/3YzX3APz~2fzNW7gsOZSDQ "Turn on the Robotic Process Automation (RPA) bot generation skill to use generative AI to create automations, activities, and automation logic additions from text instructions and preview options."). * After activating the RPA bot generation skill, relaunch the RPA Desktop Design Studio application to apply the modified settings. {#create-activity-now-assist__ul_nwp_ldh_zdc} If you skip these steps, the ServiceNow Otto for RPA Hub feature doesn't appear in RPA Desktop Design Studio. Familiarize yourself with the RPA bot generation skill concepts. For more information, see [Robotic Process Automation (RPA) bot generation skill](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/TrlhXcdcATwbcccCnb42XA "Use the RPA bot generation skill to create automations, activities, and automation logic additions from text instructions and preview options from the RPA Desktop Design Studio user interface."), [Limitations of ServiceNow Otto for RPA Hub](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/JVzAfI_sLgvEA4F8tXxo9w "The limitations of the RPA bot generation skill are as follows."), and [Example instructions for ServiceNow Otto for RPA Hub](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/UHpRxvleyakuLmG9oxI6IQ "Example instructions you can use with Now Assist for RPA Hub to get relevant, accurate responses. Refer to these examples when crafting instructions to guide automation tasks."). Role required: sn_rpa_fdn.rpa_developer or sn_rpa_fdn.rpa_admin ## About this task Activities are a reusable set of instructions that are designed for an automation on the Design surface of RPA Desktop Design Studio. Activities are used to segregate the entire automation into smaller chunks for easier comprehension of the automation logic. You can design automation workflows in an activity on the Design surface by using various components. Each activity contains two components by default: Start and End. These components can't be deleted because they're the starting and ending points of the activity. You can reuse each activity multiple times within the same automation project by dragging the activity to the Design surface. You can also import activities in different automation projects. To create an activity manually, see [Create an activity manually in RPA Desktop Design Studio](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/PphWku18RisJitzZ~ryGwg "Create and use an activity to provide modularity to an automation project in RPA Desktop Design Studio."). ## Procedure 1. In the Project Explorer pane of RPA Desktop Design Studio, navigate to Activities. The Activities section lists all the activities that are created in each project. By default, a Main activity is created when a new project is initiated. The automation execution starts from the startup activity, in this case, Main activity, as shown in the following example.Figure 1. Example: Activity in RPA Desktop Design Studio 2. In the Project Explorer pane, right-click Activities and select New activity using AI. Figure 2. Create an activity using AI 3. In the New activity window, enter the AI instructions. The instruction text is used by the RPA bot generation skill to create your automation. Use short, direct, and clear sentences to describe the expected actions. Be specific and provide detailed descriptions of the automation logic. Avoid jargon and abbreviations. Figure 3. Example: New activity window Note: For more information on example AI instructions and general guidelines, see [Robotic Process Automation (RPA) bot generation skill](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/TrlhXcdcATwbcccCnb42XA "Use the RPA bot generation skill to create automations, activities, and automation logic additions from text instructions and preview options from the RPA Desktop Design Studio user interface."). For more information about the limitations of the RPA bot generation skill, see [Limitations of ServiceNow Otto for RPA Hub](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/JVzAfI_sLgvEA4F8tXxo9w "The limitations of the RPA bot generation skill are as follows."). 4. Select Generate preview. 5. **Optional:** In the New Activity window, regenerate a preview, clear a workflow, cancel an automation, or add an activity. Note: You can't make any changes In the Activity preview screen because it's read-only. You can maximize it and use scroll options to view the entire generated automation workflow. If your instruction generates a workflow with components that aren't compatible with the current project type, those components show up as unknown in the generated workflow. For example, if your workflow includes a GracefulStop component and if the current project is attended automation, the GracefulStop component appears as unknown because it's not supported in the attended automations. Figure 4. Example: New activity options | Option | Procedure | | Regenerate preview | If the generated automation preview doesn't meet your needs, you can update the AI instructions, and select Regenerate preview. Each time you build or rebuild an automation, the operation counts as an assist tracked by your AI subscription. To track your AI usage, see [Monitoring Now Assist usage in Subscription Management](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=monitoring-now-assist-usage&version=zurich&pubname=zurich-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US). | | Clear | If you want to clear the workflow that was created by the AI instructions, select Clear and then select Yes in the Confirm clear automation window. | | Cancel | If you want to stop creating an automation and return to the design surface, select Cancel. In the Confirm cancel window, select Yes to return to the previous screen. The added content isn't saved. | | Add activity | If the automation preview looks good, select Add activity. Important: The automation is generated by AI. Be sure to check it for accuracy and make any edits before running. Close the displayed message for a clearer view. Figure 5. Example: Automation workflow on the design surface | |-|-| {#create-activity-now-assist__choicetable_tkm_2nn_4dc} {#create-activity-now-assist__steps_nwv_vqn_4dc} ## Result The automation flow is added as a New Activity in Activities. ## What to do next For more actions on the activity, see [Create an activity manually in RPA Desktop Design Studio](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/PphWku18RisJitzZ~ryGwg "Create and use an activity to provide modularity to an automation project in RPA Desktop Design Studio.").