AI writing, search, and task assistance inside a connected workspace and knowledge base.
Full evaluationGlossary · Updated Sep 2, 2026
Retrieval-augmented generation (RAG)
A technique where a system fetches relevant documents and gives them to the model so answers are grounded in your data.
Definition
Retrieval-augmented generation combines search with generation: documents are split into chunks, embedded as vectors, and stored; at query time the most relevant chunks are retrieved and inserted into the prompt so the model answers from them, often with citations. RAG underpins knowledge assistants, support bots, and research tools because it keeps answers current and specific without retraining models.
Why it matters when choosing a tool
Tools that use RAG can answer from your own documents with sources, which is usually what businesses mean when they ask for an AI that knows their content.
Where you will meet it
AI Knowledge Management, AI Customer Support, AI Agent & Chatbot Builders
Related terms
Tools where this matters
Reviewed products in the related categories
Google's source-grounded research notebook that answers only from the documents you add and makes audio overviews.
Full evaluation
Enterprise search and an AI assistant that answer questions across a company's apps with permissions intact.
Full evaluation
An AI support agent inside Intercom that resolves customer conversations from your help content and hands off to people.
Full evaluation
AI agents, agent copilots, and automation built into the Zendesk support suite.
Full evaluation
A visual platform for designing, testing, and deploying AI agents for support and conversational products.
Full evaluation