Define objects with AI Mode

Use AI Mode to define the objects you want, in Custom Aggregation and Global Search, by describing them in plain English

Overview

AI Mode is currently provided in beta and is under active development. Review the results carefully before relying on them.

Creating a custom Object in Custom Aggregation normally requires understanding CAST object types, graph link semantics, and the visual rule builder - a significant barrier even for experienced users. AI Mode removes that barrier: describe the objects you want in plain English, and the AI translates your description into a query, runs it, and shows you the matching objects.

In Custom Aggregation, AI Mode is used to define which objects should be included when you create a new custom Object. The same capability is also available in Global Search, to bring back objects matching your description.

AI Mode requires an AI provider to be configured in AI Settings and the AI Features Access role to be granted to your profile - see Why AI Mode might be unavailable.

Where to find it

Global Search:

Open Global Search.
Select the AI Mode tab.

Custom Aggregation:

Open Custom Aggregation and choose Create (or Edit) on a custom node.
Select the AI Mode tab in the filter dialog.
If you are editing a node that was originally created with AI Mode, the dialog opens directly into AI Mode with your original request already filled in - there is no need to select the tab again.

How to use it

Describe the objects you want in the text box, in plain English.

If you leave the box empty, a few example requests are shown as clickable suggestions, based on data already in your application. Select one to use it as-is or as a starting point.
Select Generate query. The AI translates your description into a query and runs it automatically.
The matching objects appear below, just like a regular search or filter.

Available in ≥ 3.6.8-funcrel

Stop appears next to Generate query while the query is being generated, so you can abandon a request rather than wait for it to finish. A note below the buttons sets out what AI Mode does with your description:

What you can describe

AI Mode understands several kinds of requests, and can combine them in a single description:

What you want	Example
Objects of a given type	“All COBOL programs”
Objects matching a name pattern	“All programs whose name starts with PAY”
Objects that call other objects (Caller-Of)	“All methods that call database tables”
Objects called by other objects (Callee-Of)	“All JPQL queries called by executable objects”

What you see after generating

Updated in ≥ 3.6.9-funcrel

Your original request is shown at the top, so you always know what produced the current objects.
The matching objects are listed in a table. The query that AI Mode generated to find them is not displayed.
Where your description does not set a limit of its own, the results shown in the table are capped at 10,000 objects and the note A default limit of 10000 results has been applied is displayed above the table. To work with a different limit, state it in your description - for example “The first 500 COBOL programs” - and select Generate query again.

In releases before 3.6.9-funcrel, a Show query toggle displayed the generated Cypher query, which you could edit and run again with Run - for example to change the result limit. In releases before 3.6.8-funcrel, the default limit was 1,000 objects.

Saving your work (Custom Aggregation)

Updated in ≥ 3.6.9-funcrel

When you are satisfied with the objects returned, confirm the dialog in Custom Aggregation to save your request as the node’s rule. The custom node then includes all objects matching that rule, using the same underlying mechanism as a manually built rule.

The Definition section of the custom node displays your request as its Prompt. To change it, select the edit (pencil) icon: AI Mode opens again with your original request, so you can review it and its results before making changes.

In releases before 3.6.9-funcrel, the Definition section displayed both the request and the generated Cypher query.

Why AI Mode might be unavailable

Permissions

AI Mode requires the AI Features Access role, which grants the underlying AI_FEATURES permission. You have access if you are a global Administrator, or if an administrator has added the role to your profile - see Default profiles and roles. Otherwise, the tab appears disabled.

AI provider not configured

An administrator needs to set up an AI provider under AI Settings first. Until that is done, AI Mode stays disabled with a tooltip explaining that the AI provider needs to be configured.

Service unavailable

If the Agents service is temporarily unavailable, AI Mode will be disabled and a message will indicate that the service is currently unavailable.

AI Mode relies on the CAST Imaging MCP Server. To keep the AI Mode tab enabled, check that:

MCP Server 3.1.0-funcrel or later is installed and healthy - earlier releases do not support AI Mode
the machine on which the imaging-viewer component is installed (it includes the AI service) can reach the MCP Server machine on the MCP Aggregator Gateway port: 8285 by default, unless you changed it during installation. The MCP Server registers its host and port with the Control Panel (the service registry in imaging-services) under the name MCPSERVER. To check them, browse to http://<imaging-services-host>:8098/ and find MCPSERVER under Instances currently registered with Eureka - the host and port are shown in the Status column. If a firewall or network rule blocks this connection, AI Mode cannot work

Key rules

Describe the objects you want in plain English - you do not need to know the underlying CAST object types, link directions, or query syntax.
Use the suggestion chips as a starting point if you are not sure how to phrase your request.
To change the result limit or refine which objects are matched, reword your description and generate the query again.
In Custom Aggregation, confirm the dialog to save your request as the custom node’s rule.