Search Center vs AI assistant
Choose a Search Center when visitors should go to a dedicated page to search. Choose an AI assistant when questions should be answered within the page they are already using.
Both Seekdown surfaces answer from a memory dataset and can show supporting sources. The main difference is how and where the visitor starts.
Compare the experience
| Decision | Search Center | AI assistant |
|---|---|---|
| Surface | Full-page search destination | Floating, inline, or overlay interface |
| First action | Enter a query or choose a suggestion | Open the assistant or respond to its greeting |
| Strong fit | Docs, catalogs, public knowledge bases, site-wide search | Page-level support, onboarding, contextual questions |
| Public access | Hosted link is public by default | Public or private website embed |
| History | Each visit starts fresh by default | Designed for a continuing conversation |
| Source | One selected memory dataset | A connected memory dataset |
Use the visitor's starting point
Choose a Search Center for deliberate search
A documentation reader may arrive with a specific task and want one large search field. A public link also works in navigation, support replies, onboarding emails, and bookmarks.
Choose an assistant for in-page help
A shopper comparing a product or a user following setup steps may benefit from asking without leaving the page. The surrounding page gives the interaction useful context.
Use both when the jobs differ
One dataset can support a Search Center as the public destination and an assistant across individual pages. This avoids maintaining two copies of the same source material.
A practical decision test
Ask these questions before building either surface:
- Will visitors intentionally navigate somewhere to search?
- Do they need the interface on every relevant page?
- Should a new visit begin with an empty search state?
- Does the content need anonymous public access or authenticated access?
- Can one approved dataset answer the intended questions?
If the first and third answers are yes, start with a Search Center. If the second is more important, start with an assistant. If both journeys matter, test both against the same ten visitor questions and compare which route requires fewer steps.
The interface does not solve source gaps. Whichever surface you choose, verify citations, unsupported questions, and content refresh before launch.