Why your documentation search needs an Ask AI button
Give readers a direct path from search results to an AI answer without making them repeat the query or choose between search and chat upfront.
Documentation readers do not always know whether they need a page or an answer.
They may start by searching for a feature, error, or task. Sometimes the right result is a documentation page they can open and inspect. Other times, they want an explanation of what the documentation says.
An Ask AI button gives readers both options from the query they have already entered.
Search and chat solve different reader needs
Search is useful when the reader wants to find a page.
A developer looking for the webhooks reference, an authentication guide, or a particular API endpoint may simply want the relevant documentation near the top of the results.
Chat is useful when the reader wants an explanation.
For example, someone asking how retry behavior works might need information from an API reference, a configuration guide, and troubleshooting documentation.
The reader should not have to decide between those experiences before searching.
Let readers ask AI from the search results
In Biel.ai, search can show an Ask AI option for the query the reader has already entered.
The flow is simple:
- The reader enters a query.
- Search returns relevant documentation pages.
- The reader can open a result or choose Ask AI.
- Ask AI opens chat with the same query.
A search for webhooks may be satisfied by opening the reference page.
A query such as why are my webhook retries failing after 24 hours? may be easier to explore through Ask AI.
In both cases, the reader starts in the same place and chooses what is useful after seeing the results.
See the widget customization documentation for the current search and Ask AI options.
Configure the Ask AI button
The Biel.ai search component supports an Ask AI control alongside search results.
You can customize its icon and text or hide it when you want a search-only experience.
<biel-search
project="your-project-id"
ai-icon="sparks"
ai-result-fragment="Let AI answer your question"
/>You can also style the component with the supported CSS custom properties.
See the widget customization documentation for current attributes, styling options, and configuration details.
Use search and chat analytics for different questions
Search and chat can reveal different parts of the reader experience.
Search analytics can help you see what readers search for and whether they engage with the results. Chatbot analytics can show recurring questions, satisfaction, and Content Gaps.
| What you notice | What to investigate |
|---|---|
| A common search does not surface the expected page | Page terminology, metadata, ranking, or search configuration |
| Readers find the page but continue asking the same question | Whether the page explains the task clearly enough |
| Ask AI cannot answer a recurring question | Whether the documentation is missing or incomplete |
| Search returns several conflicting pages | Which documentation should be updated or retired |
These signals tell you where to look. Check the documentation before deciding what needs to change.
See the Analytics documentation for current search and chatbot metrics.
For a broader analytics workflow, see how technical writers use chatbot analytics to improve documentation quality.
Frequently asked questions
Does an Ask AI button replace documentation search?
No.
Search remains the direct route when the reader wants a documentation page. Ask AI gives them another option when they want an explanation.
Does Ask AI reuse the search query?
Yes.
In Biel.ai's integrated search and chat experience, selecting Ask AI sends the current search query to chat so the reader does not need to type it again.
Can we hide the Ask AI option?
Yes. You can hide the Ask AI control when you want a search-only experience.
See the widget customization documentation for the current configuration.
When should we improve search instead of the documentation?
If the right page exists but readers cannot find it, investigate titles, terminology, metadata, and search ranking.
If readers find the page but it does not answer the task clearly, improve the documentation itself.
Give readers both options from one query
Do not make readers choose between search and chat before they start. Let them search for the task, open a relevant page when that is enough, or use Ask AI when they want an explanation from the query they already entered.
If you want to add integrated search and Ask AI to your documentation, create a Biel.ai account and follow the Quickstart to create a project and test the experience.