About AI Descriptions for Subject Areas

AI Descriptions are semantic metadata that explain a column’s business meaning and analytical role. Oracle Analytics AI Agents use this information to identify the appropriate subject areas for analytical and research questions and to generate accurate SQL statements when answering those questions.

For example, an AI Description can explain what a column represents, how it is used to filter or group data, or how it relates to other columns.

Use AI Descriptions to document information that a column name or synonym alone doesn’t convey. Well-written descriptions can improve the accuracy and consistency of Assistant responses by helping the Assistant select the appropriate column, apply filters correctly, and interpret values as intended.

When to Add an AI Description

Add an AI Description when users or the Assistant need to understand an important business rule or detail to interpret a column correctly. For example, use an AI Description to:

• Distinguish between similar columns, such as Invoice Forecast and Opportunity Forecast.
• Explain a measure’s grain, unit, or scale.
• Describe how column values are formatted.
• Explain a relationship or dependency between columns.
• Identify important inclusions or exclusions.

For example, if a measure is stored in thousands of dollars, describe that unit explicitly. If a Consolidated Total value already includes other invoice types, describe the rule so that the Assistant doesn’t aggregate the total with its component values.

AI Descriptions, Synonyms, and Agent Instructions

Column names and synonyms help the Assistant identify a column. AI Descriptions explain the business meaning of a column and how its values should be interpreted.

AI Descriptions don’t replace Agent supplemental instructions. Supplemental instructions define how an Agent behaves and responds to users, whereas AI Descriptions define the semantics of the subject area data. A column AI Description can be used by multiple Agents.

Guidelines for Writing AI Descriptions

Write concise, specific descriptions that state the business context the Assistant needs. Include details that affect query logic or result interpretation, such as units, value formats, and dependencies.

Don’t repeat the column name or use an AI Description only to list alternate names. Add synonyms for alternate names, and use an AI Description for business meaning that names and synonyms can’t express.

You can add AI Descriptions manually or use the import and export options to edit descriptions in bulk. Review descriptions before importing or saving them, and retain only information that is accurate and meaningful for the subject area.