Authors: Karen Lee, Rahul Shinge

Introduction

Today, when IBM Software Hub detects an error / warning event, an alert is displayed to administrators via the monitoring interface. However, acting on the alert often requires more information, which is not always immediately accessible without leaving the platform.  To help with this, IBM Software Hub now provides the IBM Software Hub Assistant, a Generative AI-powered feature.  Released as a tech preview in IBM Software Hub v5.1.1, it is the first step in augmeting and infusing the platform with AI functionality. In this version, assistant supports a specific set of platform events, allowing users to make well-informed decisions right within the interface.  

Addressing customer pain points

IBM Software Hub platform provides multiple features, and many Data and AI services run on the platform. To find information about a specific feature, service, configuration information and so on, the user needs to search through IBM documentation which can be a time consuming and tedious process as many times these searches result in multiple options and require narrowing down desired content.

IBM Software Hub Assistant powered by Generative AI enhances user experience and productivity by allowing administrative users to ask questions in natural language to expedite search of desired content (i.e. information, command, etc).

What is IBM Software Hub Assistant? 

IBM Software Hub Assistant allows administrative user find information about IBM Software Hub platform and it’s eco-system through a chat interface. It could be information about a specific feature, event, or command to take action. IBM Software Hub Assistant is powered by IBM Watsonx Granite model.

IBM Software Hub Assistant technical preview in version 5.1.1 introduces generative AI recommendations for selected alerts from privileged monitoring service. This feature offers a generative AI chat experience which provides recommendations to help resolving alerts generated by the following privileged monitors:

• Network status check (check-network-status)

• Volume usage status check (check-volume-status)

• EDB cluster status check (check-edb-cluster-status)

When such alerts are generated, IBM Software Hub Assistant provides information on techniques or tools that can be used to troubleshoot problems triggering the alerts.

A Closer look at IBM Software Hub Assistant in action

Alerts and events card now shows AI icons when the alerts with AI recommendations are generated.  The top row of the card displays AI icon with a numeric count indicating the number of alerts with AI recommendations. The alerts are marked with an AI icon in the card display for easy identification.

Upon visiting the Alerts and events page, user will find clickable AI icons shown for the events with AI recommendations, which open the IBM Software Hub Assistant chat interface. 

The IBM Software Hub Assistant AI chat interface provides techniques and tooling information for the associated alert for troubleshooting. 

User can seamlessly continue the conversation in IBM Software Hub Assistant chat with follow-up questions for further diagnosis. The context and chat history are preserved throughout the session for a more personalized experience.

Benefits of IBM Software Hub Assistant powered by generative AI

• Enhanced user experience: IBM Software Hub Assistant brings in in-context chat experience, to find information of specific query the administrative user can have conversation using natural language. 

• Improves user productivity: IBM Software Hub Assistant helps the administrative user to stay focused and find answers through conversion instead of searching through documentation, which helps to improve time to take action.

• Simpler Day-2 operations: As a response to user query IBM Software Hub Assistant renders commands that can be used to execute specific action.

Conclusion 

IBM Software Hub Assistant feature in IBM Software Hub v5.1.1 represents significant advancement in user experience, user productivity and platform efficiency and opens the door for future growth and innovation using Generative AI capabilities. 

For more information about enabling IBM Software Hub Assistant feature, contact IBM Support.