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Enterprise search is undergoing a fundamental shift. As user expectations rise and AI agents increasingly become primary consumers of search, the challenge is no longer simply finding information—but delivering the right context to drive better decisions, actions, and business outcomes. This keynote explores how enterprise search is evolving from keyword retrieval toward intent‑aware, adaptive systems that balance relevance, explainability, governance, and cost.
Drawing on IBM’s long‑standing commitment to open source and its growing leadership in the OpenSearch community, we present a practical framework for next‑generation enterprise search built around three forms of intent: query intent, journey intent, and product intent. We examine why “more AI” or vector‑only approaches are often insufficient, how traditional lexical techniques remain critical when blended with semantic search, and why understanding exploration versus exploitation is essential for designing effective search journeys and measuring ROI.
The session highlights how OpenSearch enables smarter context through hybrid retrieval, dynamic relevance, and observable, explainable pipelines—capabilities that are increasingly critical as search moves from human interfaces to agent‑driven experiences. We also explore emerging community trends, including agent builders and teams migrating from vector‑only systems, and preview upcoming OpenSearch innovations that support AI‑native, governed, and cost‑efficient enterprise search.
Attendees will leave with a clear mental model for modern enterprise search, actionable guidance for balancing innovation with fundamentals, and an understanding of why OpenSearch—developed in the open—plays a foundational role in the future of enterprise and agentic search.
