--- sourceDocument: Australia Build or modify applications sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/application-development Release : - australia ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Australia Build or modify applications ft:clusterId : - cadev bundleId : - cadev workflow : - Development, Data, and Analytics --- # Record summarization skill # Custom app record summarization skill {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Australia Updated July 24, 2026 ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 3 minutes to read Summarize ![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. ## Summary of Custom app record summarization skill The ServiceNow Otto for App Engine custom app record summarization skill, available from version 28.2.4, leverages generative AI to create concise summaries of records within custom tables and applications. This capability helps users quickly grasp essential details and context from records, saving time and reducing redundant work. The skill is configurable, allowing you to tailor which tables and fields are summarized, incorporate additional data sources, and control user access to the generated summaries. Show full answer Show less ## Data sources and configuration You can configure the skill to summarize records from any custom application table, whether global or scoped. During setup, you select the tables and specific fields to include in the summaries and provide descriptive context for each field to enhance summary accuracy. For example, in a PTO request table, fields like PTO start date, PTO end date, and approval status would have clear descriptions to guide the AI. Besides primary table data, the skill can incorporate additional data sources such as related tables, relationships, emails, and attachments. For related tables, you must specify which fields to include along with their descriptions. Emails and attachments, if present when generating a summary, are dynamically fetched and included, enriching the summary content. Note that including attachments increases AI assist usage, which can be monitored in Subscription Management. ## Display options The generated summaries can be presented in various ways based on your configuration: * **In-product:** Summaries appear directly within forms and workspaces, enhancing record visibility where users interact most. * **ServiceNow Otto® panel:** Summaries are accessible via chat in the Otto panel, which must be activated if not already enabled. * **Both:** You can enable both display modes simultaneously for broader accessibility. ## Access control You can define which users and groups are authorized to generate and view AI-generated summaries. This includes setting roles, conditions, and customizing access to specific display options based on user roles. This ensures summaries are available only to appropriate personnel, aligning with your organization's security and governance policies. The ServiceNow Otto for App Engine custom app record summarization skill can generate summaries for the contents of records in custom applications and tables. ## Record summarization overview {#custom-app-record-summarization-na-for-app-engine__section_x4t_xv4_xgc} Starting with version 28.2.4 of ServiceNow Otto for App Engine, you can use the custom app record summarization skill. The skill uses generative AI to generate summaries for records in custom tables and applications. Record summarization enables you to learn important details and context about a record quickly, helping to save you time and reduce repeated efforts. The custom app record summarization skill is configurable, enabling you to define the data, experience, and access for the summaries that it generates. You can specify the tables and fields that you want to summarize. You can also include additional data sources, such as emails and attachments, to use when generating summaries. You can then define which users have access to the summaries. Learn more about the custom app record summarization skill and how you can configure it to work for your custom applications in the following sections. ## Data sources {#custom-app-record-summarization-na-for-app-engine__section_asn_wx4_xgc} The custom app record summarization skill can generate summaries for records in any table that's created within a custom application. The application can be global or scoped. You can configure the skill to summarize as many tables as needed for your custom application. During the configuration process, you define which table or tables you want the skill to summarize. For each table that you select, you must define the fields that should be included in the summaries and provide additional context about the fields that you selected. For example, let's say that you want to summarize the records in a table for your paid time off (PTO) request application. You select the table that stores details about each employee's PTO request, such as the dates that the employee is requesting time off from work and the approval status of the request. When you select the fields that you want to include in the AI-generated summaries, you must enter a description for each field. Field descriptions provide additional information and context about the purpose of the field, helping the skill to generate summaries that are more accurate. The following table illustrates how to write field descriptions for generative AI-powered summaries.{#custom-app-record-summarization-na-for-app-engine__table_oj1_l4y_1hc__entry__2} | Field in the PTO request table | Field description | |-|-| | PTO start date | Date that the employee's PTO begins. Date is in MM-DD-YYYY format. | | PTO end date | Date that the employee's PTO ends. Date is in MM-DD-YYYY format. | | Approval status | Field that indicates whether the PTO request has been approved, denied, or hasn't been reviewed yet. | [Table 1. Example fields and field descriptions for configuring the custom app record summarization skill] {#custom-app-record-summarization-na-for-app-engine__table_oj1_l4y_1hc} ## Additional data sources {#custom-app-record-summarization-na-for-app-engine__section_q5b_1y4_xgc} The custom app record summarization skill can include additional data sources when generating a summary of a record, such as: * Related tables * Relationships * Emails * Attachments {#custom-app-record-summarization-na-for-app-engine__ul_kbp_4vz_1hc} For each related table or relationship that you add, you must provide the fields and field descriptions that you want included in the generated summaries. Activities, such as emails and attachments, don't have fields that you can select and configure. If you select either email or attachment as an additional data source to include in a summary, the skill attempts to fetch that data at the time that the summary is generated. If an email or attachment is present within the record, the skill includes that information in the summary that it generates. Otherwise, the summary is generated without the email or attachment. Important: Record summarization that includes an attachment has a greater assist usage. 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=australia&pubname=australia-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US). ## Display options {#custom-app-record-summarization-na-for-app-engine__section_cy4_nw4_xgc} You can choose where you want record summarization to be available to your application users during the skill configuration process. The display options that you can select are: in-product, ServiceNow Otto® panel, or both. Note: The display options that you choose applies to every application that uses the ServiceNow Otto for App Engine custom app record summarization skill. In-product : When selected, AI-generated summaries are displayed on forms and workspaces. For more information about adding record summarization to a workspace, see the following resources: * [Customize UI Builder pages using components](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/mrfQSAnSnETSUpsAmld7yA "Learn what a component is in UI Builder. Also, see how components work within UI Builder.") * [Components documentation for the AI summary card](https://horizon.servicenow.com/workspace/components/now-ai-summary-card?release=zurich) * [UI Builder setup documentation for the AI summary card](https://developer.servicenow.com/dev.do#!/reference/next-experience/zurich/now-components/now-ai-summary-card/uib-setup) {#custom-app-record-summarization-na-for-app-engine__ul_qhk_gjj_jhc} ServiceNow Otto® panel : When selected, AI summaries are accessible through chat in the ServiceNow Otto® panel. If you don't see this option when configuring the skill, you must activate the ServiceNow Otto® panel. For more information, see [Turn on the Now Assist panel](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=activate-now-assist-panel&version=australia&pubname=australia-intelligent-experiences&ft:locale=en-US). ## Access {#custom-app-record-summarization-na-for-app-engine__section_cfp_yx4_xgc} You can define which users and groups have access to generate AI summaries. During configuration, you can add roles and conditions that restrict when and for whom the skill is available. You can also customize whether certain roles have access to a particular display option.