Exploring app generation

App generation enables you to create applications in ServiceNow Studio by describing your business process in a conversation with ServiceNow Otto®.

Starting with the Australia release, app generation is being prepared for future deprecation. It will be hidden and no longer activated on new instances but will continue to be supported. Build Agent provides the latest experience for this functionality. For more information, see Build Agent.

How does app generation work?

With the app generation skill available with ServiceNow Otto for Creator, you can create applications in ServiceNow Studio using natural language. Describe your business process and engage in a conversation with ServiceNow Otto® to develop an application for your organization. The application can include a workspace and flows. App generation accelerates the initial development of a basic app that you can then customize.

You can use Now LLM Service, Azure OpenAI, Google Gemini or Anthropic Claude on AWS as the AI model provider for all generative AI skills and AI agents. Use the Configuration Controls in AI Control Tower to define which options are available, then set the skill-level preferences in the AI Admin Hub console. For more information, see Large language models on the ServiceNow AI Platform®.

Before you begin, confirm that you have the required roles:

• To use the ServiceNow Otto® panel, you must have the now_assist_panel_user role.

• To create an application with the ServiceNow Otto for Creator app generation skill, you must have the admin role or the sn_g_app_creator.app_creator role.

• To edit (not create) an application with app generation, you must have the delegated developer role and be assigned to the application.

• To add a workspace to an application created using app generation, enable the ServiceNow Otto for Creator experience generation skill. For more information, see Create an AI-generated experience.

• To add a flow to an application created using app generation, enable the ServiceNow Otto for Creator flow generation skill and confirm that you have a flow_designer role. For more information, see .

[Omitted image “app-generation-workflow-infographic-asset-0020323v2.png”] Alt text: Infographic that shows the four phases to using app generation, with a fifth on verifying the app in ServiceNow Studio.

• Conversation

  Chat with ServiceNow Otto® to specify the business processes you want in the application. Include details about objectives, users, workflows, and experiences so that ServiceNow Otto® can generate an accurate initial structure.

• Refinement (generate app requirements and preview)

  ServiceNow Otto® provides a summary of the application requirements based on the conversation. Preview the application to verify that it is accurate. To make changes, continue the conversation and provide additional details. ServiceNow Otto® updates the preview tab and provides updated summaries until you choose to proceed with generating the application.

• App generation

  ServiceNow Otto® creates the application and associated components, such as tables, roles, access control lists (ACLs), record producers, flows, and workspaces.

• Verification

  In ServiceNow Studio, verify everything that is generated. Modify the app to meet your organization's needs. For example, extend app functionality by adding automation, script includes, business rules, and other features.

On the ServiceNow Studio home page and on the application details tab, apps created with app generation display the AI indicator.

[Omitted image “app-generation-sns-page-ai-indicator.png”] Alt text: ServiceNow Studio homepage with an app recently created with app generation highlighted.

What are the benefits of app generation?

Benefit Feature Users Create applications quickly by describing what you need using natural language. General guidelines for using app generation Developer Refine application details through conversation with ServiceNow Otto®. Generate apps with Now Assist for ServiceNow Studio Developer Edit existing applications faster using ServiceNow Otto®. Review and edit applications built using app generation Developer

• General guidelines for using app generation
  To get the best results from app generation, provide clear and detailed descriptions of your application requirements during your conversation with ServiceNow Otto®.

Parent Topic:App generation