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Turn Your Documentation Search Box into SuperSmart Search

· 3 min read
Roushan Gupta
Roushan Gupta
Technical Writer | Documentation Specialist

Still jumping between documentation pages and spending huge time trying to get the right answer? If yes, then it's time to stop searching manually and start AI powered smart search to get your answers instantly.

With Docusaurus 3.9.0 that supports Algolia Ask AI, you can make your documentation application smart, interactive, and searchable. Just ask a question and get the exact answer you need right away—no more digging through pages, scanning headers, or feeling lost. Transform your docs into an intelligent knowledge hub.

Now its time to empower your users with AI-driven search that delivers quick, accurate, and conversational answers. Make your documentation the place where people actually want to find answers.

Key Benefits​

  • Faster answers for users: No more hunting for information.
  • Reduced repetitive questions: Free up your team's time.
  • Smarter documentation: Your docs become an interactive, intelligent resource.

Traditional search tools rely on exact keywords, often leading to irrelevant results and wasted time. Ask AI changes the game by:

  • Understanding natural language: Users simply type questions in plain English.
  • Providing context-aware answers: Responses are generated directly from your documentation.
  • Reducing support tickets: Users find what they need without contacting support.
  • Enhancing user experience: Modern, fast, and intuitive search with autocomplete.

Before vs. After Ask AI​

BeforeAfter
Keyword guessingNatural language questions
Irrelevant resultsContext-aware answers
User frustrationInstant, conversational help

Example​

A user asks, "How to change my account settings?"

Instead of clicking through endless pages or hunting for the right guide, Ask AI gives you a direct, relevant answer—like "how to change the account settings"—right away. Isn't that amazing? This is the breakthrough we've all been waiting for! Now, users get the information they need instantly, without the frustration of navigating a maze of documentation.

Not only does this solve the problem of information overload, but it also makes your documentation the go-to resource for users to quickly self-serve and resolve their questions. Especially for new users, finding answers becomes effortless, making your docs more engaging and accessible than ever before.

How Ask AI Works​

Ask AI combines Algolia's powerful indexing with advanced AI to deliver the right answers:

  1. Indexing: Algolia crawls and organizes your documentation.
  2. AI Processing: Ask AI leverages a Large Language Model (LLM) to generate accurate, meaningful answers.
  3. User Experience: Users see either traditional search results or conversational answers directly in the search box.

Setting Up Ask AI in Docusaurus​

Getting started is simple:

  1. Install Docusaurus v3.9
  2. Set up Algolia DocSearch v4
  3. Add your configuration to docusaurus.config.js:
themeConfig: {
  algolia: {
    appId: 'YOUR_APP_ID',
    apiKey: 'YOUR_SEARCH_API_KEY',
    indexName: 'YOUR_INDEX_NAME',
    contextualSearch: true,
    searchPagePath: 'search',
    askAi: 'YOUR_ALGOLIA_ASSISTANT_ID', // enables Ask AI
  },
}

Don't let your documentation slow your users down. With Docusaurus v3.9 and Algolia DocSearch v4, your docs become smarter and easier to use. Connect DocSearch, enable Ask AI, and let users find answers instantly.

References & Resources​