---
sourceDocument: Australia Release Notes
sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/release-notes

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia Release Notes

ft:clusterId :

    - rn

bundleId :

    - rn


---

# Smart Assessment Engine release notes

# Smart Assessment Engine release notes {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Australia  
Updated March 12, 2026  
![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 6 minutes to read  
The ServiceNow®
Smart Assessment Engine (SAE)
enables
you to create customizable assessment templates with detailed instructions and questions to gather information from assessors. SAE was enhanced and updated in the Australia release.

## About Smart Assessment Engine {#grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn__grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-highlights}

[Australia Patch 5](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/86~p_JZvUlBB3FD_j8roSw "The Australia Patch 5 release contains important problem fixes.")ServiceNow Otto® is the new name for the Now Assist experience in SAE. All Now Assist references have been updated to ServiceNow Otto.{#grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn__grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-highlights-1}  
[Australia Patch 2](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/SG~RVvxPNqIQWrm6Bfkd9A "The Australia Patch 2 release contains important problem fixes.")

* Collaborate inline with question-level flags, question-level comments, and a new Work Notes tab.
* Draft assessment responses automatically with AI Response Assist, which suggests answers from prior assessments and attached documents with full source traceability.
* Embed assessments inside any parent record, playbook, or workspace with the new embedded assessments capability and configurable UI Builder properties
* Update published templates safely with template versioning while preserving auditability of in-flight assessments.
* Streamline the responder experience with continuous scrolling inside sections and sub-sections, fully hidden conditional questions, and multi-filter support on the question list. View scope item fields directly in the assessment task list.
{#grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn__ul_chv_sch_c3c}  
[Australia Patch 1](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/YA7hULsClAMRpa0n7ju_1A "The Australia Patch 1 release contains important problem fixes.")

* Edit published templates quickly with inline edits and built‑in audit tracking.
* Enable efficient, role-based collaboration by allowing primary owners to delegate assessment sections to subject matter experts (SMEs).
{#grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn__ul_ubc_rw5_jjc}

See [Smart Assessment Engine](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=smart-asmnt-engine-landing-page&version=australia&pubname=australia-governance-risk-compliance&ft:locale=en-US) for more information.{#grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn__grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-highlights-4}

## Activation and other requirements

Important:  
Smart Assessment Engine is available in the ServiceNow Store. For details, see the "Activation information" section of these release notes.

Activation information

:   Install Smart Assessment Engine by requesting it from the ServiceNow Store. Visit the [ServiceNow Store](https://store.servicenow.com/sn_appstore_store.do#!/store/home) to view all the available apps, and for information about submitting requests to the store. For cumulative release notes information for all released apps, see the [ServiceNow Store version history release notes](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/store-release-notes/sn-store-release-notes.html).{#grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn__grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-activation-1}

## July 2026 {#ariaid-title2}

The ServiceNow®
Smart Assessment Engine (SAE)
enables
you to create customizable assessment templates with detailed instructions and questions to gather information from assessors. SAE was enhanced and updated in the Australia release.

### What's changed {#grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-2026-07__grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-changed-features}

[Large language models on the ServiceNow AI Platform®](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=exploring-large-language-models&version=australia&pubname=australia-intelligent-experiences&ft:locale=en-US)
:   The Now LLM Service is no longer the default model provider for new or inactive AI assets. A third-party LLM is now selected by default, while existing configurations using the Now LLM Service continue unchanged. The Now LLM Service is still available for manual selection.
{#grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-2026-07__grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-changed-features-2}

## June 2026 {#ariaid-title3}

The ServiceNow®
Smart Assessment Engine (SAE)
enables
you to create customizable assessment templates with detailed instructions and questions to gather information from assessors. SAE was enhanced and updated in the Australia release.

### What's new {#grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-2026-06__smart-assessment-engine-release-notes-rn-new-features}

[ServiceNow Otto for Smart Assessment Engine (SAE)](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=servicenow-otto-for-smart-assessment-engine&version=australia&pubname=australia-governance-risk-compliance&ft:locale=en-US)
:   Starting with version 22.3.5, responders can use AI Response Assist to draft answers to assessment questions and auto-apply the top suggestion --- drawing from multiple sources with citations instead of starting from scratch.

    * **Previous assessments:** Reuse answers from past SAE and classic assessments, eliminating re-entry across annual refreshes, new regulations, and recurring questionnaires.
    * **Documents:** Generate answers from documents attached to the assessment or pulled from a document management system (DMS). Responders can upload or select PDF, Word, and image files (up to 5 documents, 200 pages each). Responders can also preview documents and trace each answer to a source snippet.
    {#grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-2026-06__ul_ai_response_assist_sources} Responders choose suggestion only mode (review each suggestion with Apply or Discard) or Auto-apply mode (the top suggestion is applied to each question automatically). Either way, responders can edit any answer before
    submission.

[Embedded assessments](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=embedded-assessments&version=australia&pubname=australia-governance-risk-compliance&ft:locale=en-US)
:   Starting with version 22.3.X, bring assessments directly into the parent workflow. Embedded assessments run inside host record pages, playbooks, and workflow, letting respondents complete their work without leaving the
    parent context. Configuration is per template category and doesn't require code change. Embedded assessments inherit read access from the parent record---only users with read access to the parent record can read the embedded
    assessment.

[Template versioning](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=template-versioning&version=australia&pubname=australia-governance-risk-compliance&ft:locale=en-US)
:   Starting with version 22.3.X, update published assessment templates without copying and deprecating the original. When a template manager publishes a new version, the prior version is automatically retired and future
    assessments use the new version. Template versioning preserves auditability for in-flight assessments while letting template managers publish new versions to reflect corrections, regulatory changes, or annual content refreshes.

    * A version-info bar on every published template shows the current version and exposes a create new version action that returns the template to Draft.
    * A full version history view captures who created each version, when, and which prior version it was branched from.
    * A new Delete template version action is available from the version actions menu.
    {#grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-2026-06__ul_j5q_vxp_hjc}

[SAE Enhancements](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=sae-template-designer&version=australia&pubname=australia-governance-risk-compliance&ft:locale=en-US)
:   These SAE enhancements are available in version 22.3.X and later:

    * Flag individual questions that need attention with a single click. Flags move through three states---Flagged, Resolved, and Unflagged---and every transition is captured in the assessment activity log.
    * Add comments at the question level so responders, reviewers, and collaborators can resolve clarifications inline instead of relying on email or external tools. A new Work Notes tab next to the Comments tab provides a separate, role-gated conversation for reviewers or administrators.
    * Hide conditional questions that don't meet their visibility criteria so responders see only the questions relevant to them, eliminating Skipped clutter and reducing assessment fatigue.
    * Scroll continuously through questions within a section or sub-section instead of paginating, giving responders an uninterrupted answer flow.
    * Apply multiple filters at once on the question list (for example, Unanswered + Flagged + With comments) to focus on exactly the questions that need attention.
    * View scope item fields directly in the assessment task list so reviewers and assignees can see scope context without opening each assessment.
    * Programmatically create a combined assessment from multiple assessment IDs using any custom logic, removing the need for manual combine actions. For example, combine all control attestations belonging to an entity group into a single assessment.
    {#grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-2026-06__ul_e1d_mz4_jjc}
{#grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-2026-06__smart-assessment-engine-release-notes-rn-new-features-1}

## April 2026 {#ariaid-title4}

The ServiceNow®
Smart Assessment Engine (SAE)
enables
you to create customizable assessment templates with detailed instructions and questions to gather information from assessors. SAE was enhanced and updated in the Australia release.

### What's new {#grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-2026-04__smart-assessment-engine-release-notes-rn-new-features}

[Collaboration in assessments](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=collaboration-in-assessments&version=australia&pubname=australia-governance-risk-compliance&ft:locale=en-US)
:   Starting with version 22.3.X, use granular delegation as a primary owner to assign individual assessment sections to SMEs. Respondents can view the entire assessment for context but can edit only their assigned sections.
    Monitor overall assessment progress and maintain final review and submission capabilities.

[Quick edit for published templates](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=quick-edit-for-published-templates&version=australia&pubname=australia-governance-risk-compliance&ft:locale=en-US)
:   Starting with version 22.3.X, edit published templates inline as a template manager, including edits to the titles, descriptions, and reader roles.
{#grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-2026-04__smart-assessment-engine-release-notes-rn-new-features-1}

### What's changed {#grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-2026-04__grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-changed-features}

[ServiceNow product tiers](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=ai-native-sku-overview&version=australia&pubname=australia-intelligent-experiences&ft:locale=en-US)
:   The ServiceNow AI Platform now brings you a new AI experience with three licensing tiers available:

    * Foundation: AI basics to deliver insights
    * Advanced: AI to boost productivity across relevant use cases
    * Prime: Act autonomously with all AI assets, and create your own

    Depending on your license, you will have access to certain application features, generative AI skills, agentic workflows, and AI agents.
{#grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-2026-04__grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-changed-features-2}

## Australia Early Availability {#ariaid-title5}

The ServiceNow®
Smart Assessment Engine (SAE)
enables
you to create customizable assessment templates with detailed instructions and questions to gather information from assessors. SAE was enhanced and updated in the Australia release.

### What's changed {#grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-2026-03__grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-changed-features}

[Create an assessment template category](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=sae-asmnt-template-category-create&version=australia&pubname=australia-governance-risk-compliance&ft:locale=en-US)
:   Enables one or more roles to access a template category with the multiselect Category Roles
    field.
{#grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-2026-03__grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-changed-features-2}

## Australia {#ariaid-title6}

The ServiceNow®
Smart Assessment Engine (SAE)
enables
you to create customizable assessment templates with detailed instructions and questions to gather information from assessors. SAE was enhanced and updated in the Australia release.

### What's changed {#grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-release__grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-ui-changes}

[Filtering questions in an assessment](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=filtering-questions-in-an-assessment&version=australia&pubname=australia-governance-risk-compliance&ft:locale=en-US)
:   Apply multiple assessment filters at once (for example, Unanswered + AI-assisted). The navigation pane dynamically grays out sections with no matching questions so responders see
    exactly where attention is needed.

[Create an assessment template category](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=sae-asmnt-template-category-create&version=australia&pubname=australia-governance-risk-compliance&ft:locale=en-US)
:   Starting with version 22.3.X, the Category Role field in the assessment template category form is replaced with the Category Roles
    field.
{#grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-release__grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-ui-changes-1}

[ServiceNow Otto® name announcement](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=sn-ai-implementation-landing&version=australia&pubname=australia-intelligent-experiences&ft:locale=en-US)
:   Now Assist introduced AI on the platform. As that experience has evolved, there's a new name for the experience. ServiceNow Otto® is the conversational AI platform integrated into ServiceNow workflows. It provides agentic capabilities, supports multimodal interactions across web, mobile, and messaging channels, and enables autonomous orchestration for cross-system workflows.

[Hide conditional questions](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=sae-q-text-create&version=australia&pubname=australia-governance-risk-compliance&ft:locale=en-US)
:   Conditional questions that don't meet their visibility criteria are now fully hidden from the assessment and are no longer displayed as Skipped. Respondents see only the questions relevant to them,
    reducing assessment fatigue and eliminating "Skipped" clutter.
{#grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-release__grc-smart-assessment-engine-rn-changed-features-2}