---
title: Create and manage AI indices
description: Create, inspect, update, and delete a custom AI index and its associated resources.
url: https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4300/explore-analyze/ai-features/context-engine/create-and-manage-ai-indices
products:
  - Elastic Documentation
  - Elastic Observability
  - Elastic Security
  - Elasticsearch
  - Kibana
applies_to:
  - Elastic Cloud Serverless: Experimental
  - Elastic Stack: Planned
---

# Create and manage AI indices
<important>
  This page is currently hidden from the documentation navigation.The following Context Engine pages are live:
  - [Landing page](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4300/explore-analyze/ai-features/context-engine)
    - [Get started with Context Engine](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4300/explore-analyze/ai-features/context-engine/quickstart)
  - [Context Engine concepts](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4300/explore-analyze/ai-features/context-engine/concepts)
  - [Build and maintain an AI index](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4300/explore-analyze/ai-features/context-engine/build-and-maintain-ai-index)
    - [Create and manage AI indices](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4300/explore-analyze/ai-features/context-engine/create-and-manage-ai-indices)
  - [Add and manage sources](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4300/explore-analyze/ai-features/context-engine/add-and-manage-sources)
  - [Create and manage automations](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4300/explore-analyze/ai-features/context-engine/create-and-manage-automations)
  - [Evaluate and improve KIs](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4300/explore-analyze/ai-features/context-engine/evaluate-and-improve-knowledge-indicators)
  - [Use Context Engine with agents and applications](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4300/explore-analyze/ai-features/context-engine/use-context-engine-with-agents)
    - [Use Context Engine with Agent Builder](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4300/explore-analyze/ai-features/context-engine/use-context-engine-with-agent-builder)
  - [Query AI indices from LangChain](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4300/explore-analyze/ai-features/context-engine/langchain-integration)
  - [Context Engine APIs](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4300/explore-analyze/ai-features/context-engine/context-engine-api)
</important>

An AI index groups the sources, automations, and Knowledge Indicators (KIs) that agents retrieve as context for a defined subject. Its name and description help agents decide when that context is relevant. Create and maintain AI indices interactively in Kibana or programmatically with the Context Engine APIs. You can update or delete AI indices that you create. [Managed AI indices](/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4300/explore-analyze/ai-features/context-engine/concepts#managed-ai-indices) are read-only.

## Before you begin

Turn on the `contextEngine:enabled` advanced setting in the current Kibana space. You also need the **All** privilege for the **Context Engine** feature. To remove associated workflow automations when deleting an AI index, you also need permission to delete workflows. To delete its backing index and KIs, you need the `delete_index` index privilege on that index.
Define the purpose and boundaries of the AI index before creating it. For planning guidance, refer to [Define the AI index's purpose](/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4300/explore-analyze/ai-features/context-engine/build-and-maintain-ai-index#define-the-ai-indexs-purpose).

## Create an AI index

Create an AI index in Kibana for an interactive setup, or use the API for programmatic provisioning.

### Use the UI

Create a custom AI index as follows:
1. Open **Context** from the Kibana navigation.
2. Select **Create AI Index**.
3. Enter a **Name**. It must start with a lowercase letter or number and can contain lowercase letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores.
4. Enter a **Description** that states what the AI index is for and what its KIs contain. Include example questions the KIs should help answer and any known gaps in the information.
5. Optional: Under **Agent traces**, select the traces that you want to use as feedback about how agents use the context.
6. Select **Create AI index**.

The AI index opens with a confirmation message. Its **Sources** section is empty, and its **Automations** section remains locked until you add at least one source.
The name also determines the generated Elasticsearch index used to store KIs. You cannot rename an AI index in the UI after creating it.

### Use the API

Use the [create AI index API](https://www.elastic.co/docs/api/doc/kibana/operation/operation-post-context-engine-ai-index) when you need to provision AI indices programmatically. The request defines the AI index ID, its Elasticsearch destination, and its initial description, sources, automations, and traces.
For example, run the following request in [Console](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4300/explore-analyze/query-filter/tools/console):
```json

{
  "id": "support_context",
  "description": "Context about support cases, including recurring issues, affected products, resolution patterns, and known gaps.",
  "dest": {
    "type": "index",
    "value": "ai-index-idx-support_context"
  },
  "sources": [],
  "automations": [],
  "traces": []
}
```

The response returns `"status": "created"`. Add sources and automations in later API requests, or include them in the create request when their definitions are already known. The API reference provides the complete request and response schemas.

## Inspect AI indices

View AI indices in Kibana, or retrieve their definitions with the API.

### Use the UI

In Kibana, open **Context** to view the AI indices available in the current space, then select one to inspect its configuration and generated KIs.

### Use the API

For programmatic access, use the following APIs:
- [List AI indices](https://www.elastic.co/docs/api/doc/kibana/operation/operation-get-context-engine-ai-index) returns the AI indices available to the caller.
- [Get an AI index](https://www.elastic.co/docs/api/doc/kibana/operation/operation-get-context-engine-ai-index-aiindexid) returns the complete definition of one AI index.


## Update an AI index

In Kibana, you can update the description that agents and generated automation workflows use. With the API, you can update the complete AI index definition.

### Use the UI

Keep the description aligned with the context the AI index actually contains. The description shapes generated automation workflows and helps agents decide whether the AI index is relevant.
Update it as follows:
1. Open **Context**, then select the AI index.
2. In **Description**, select **Edit**.
3. Update the description, then select **Save**.
4. Confirm that the updated description appears on the AI index page.


### Use the API

Use the [create or update AI index API](https://www.elastic.co/docs/api/doc/kibana/operation/operation-put-context-engine-ai-index-aiindexid) to update an AI index programmatically. The request body replaces the complete AI index record. Include its destination and every source, automation, and trace that you want to preserve.
For example, the following request updates the description of the AI index created previously:
```json

{
  "description": "Context about support cases, including recurring issues, affected products, resolution patterns, known gaps, and verified queries for current case details.",
  "dest": {
    "type": "index",
    "value": "ai-index-idx-support_context"
  },
  "sources": [],
  "automations": [],
  "traces": []
}
```


## Delete an AI index

Delete a custom AI index from Kibana or with the API. In either case, decide whether to preserve or delete its generated KIs and attached workflow automations.

### Use the UI

Deleting an AI index always removes its Context Engine entry. You can also remove the generated KIs and workflow automations associated with it.
Delete an AI index as follows:
1. Open **Context**.
2. Open the actions menu for the AI index, then select **Delete AI index**.
3. In the confirmation dialog, select which associated resources to remove:
   - **Also delete the backing index `<index>` and its Knowledge Indicators**: selected by default. Clear it to keep the generated KIs and their Elasticsearch index.
- **Also delete its _N_ automations**: selected by default when the AI index has automations and you have permission to delete workflows. Otherwise, it's unavailable.
4. Select **Delete AI index**.
5. Confirm that the AI index no longer appears in **Context**.

If you preserve an associated resource, deleting the AI index does not delete that resource. Agents can no longer discover or retrieve from the deleted AI index through Context Engine.
You cannot edit or delete a managed AI index. Its owning Elastic integration controls its configuration and lifecycle.

### Use the API

Use the [delete AI index API](https://www.elastic.co/docs/api/doc/kibana/operation/operation-delete-context-engine-ai-index-aiindexid) for scripted cleanup. By default, the API deletes only the Context Engine entry and preserves its Elasticsearch destination, KIs, and attached workflows. Set the cleanup parameters explicitly when you also want to delete those resources.
For example, the following request deletes the entry, its destination and KIs, and its attached workflow automations:
```json
```

Check the response's `errors` array for any resource that could not be deleted after the AI index entry was removed.