Virtual replicas are now supported directly in the Shopify integration sort configuration UI. Merchants can select attributes and choose between standard and virtual replicas without manual setup. This eliminates the need for custom JavaScript, duplicate indices, and complex workflows previously required to manage sorting. The update reduces application size, simplifies configuration within Shopify, and removes a key blocker for teams managing large catalogs or storage limits. Click here to learn more.

The Shopify integration now supports dynamic ruleContexts on collection and search pages, allowing merchandising rules to adapt based on context such as traffic source, campaign, or season. This enables different experiences for the same collection without modifying underlying data. Merchants can apply rules like pinning, boosting, filtering, or banners per context. This update removes reliance on deprecated APIs and provides more flexible, targeted merchandising control across storefront experiences. Click here to learn more.

The Shopify integration now supports indexing metaobjects, enabling rich and reusable content such as size guides, store locations, and brand stories to be searchable and filterable in Algolia. Configuration is managed directly in the Shopify plugin, including selecting metaobject types, fields, and transformations. Updates sync automatically via webhooks, ensuring records stay current without manual reindexing. This reduces the need for custom pipelines or workarounds while enriching search results with structured content. Click here to learn more.

Safety Controls in Agent Studio introduce guardrails for deploying agents in production. Configure global and per-IP rate limits to handle spikes, set limits on tokens, steps, and conversation depth to manage cost, and restrict access using domain allowlists. This helps prevent abuse, reduce unexpected spend, and ensure agents are only accessible from approved environments.

The Algolia Productivity MCP now supports Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI, and Codex. Developers can connect to Algolia (via Dashboard OAuth) directly from their preferred Al coding environment and query Algolia without switching context. Each AI assistant is recognised by the MCP and matched against a redirect URI, without needing to enter a Client ID. Click here to learn more.

Agent Studio now includes a dedicated search settings panel, letting teams configure search parameters specifically for their agents - separate from existing index settings. Defaults (hits per page, controlled attributes, facets) are set based on evaluation findings and applied automatically when connecting a new index. All settings are fully customizable.

Agent Studio's search tool has been upgraded with improved relevance, faster response times, and reduced cost per query. Agents now benefit from more accurate, context-aware results across a wider range of query types. AI-generated tool descriptions also help agents select and invoke the right search tool at the right time, improving overall agent reasoning quality.

A new Guardrails configuration in the Safety Controls tab allows defining custom categories to filter harmful or off-topic content across input, output, or both. Each category includes a description, examples, and an optional fallback response, helping teams control how agents handle sensitive or irrelevant queries. This improves response quality, reduces risk, and ensures interactions stay aligned with the intended use case. Click here to learn more.

The Agent Studio widget search bar now features an AI mode button and context-aware prompt suggestions. As shoppers type, relevant suggested prompts appear that transition them directly into the chat experience with a single click. The AI mode button provides a persistent, prominent entry point from search to natural language conversation, reducing friction for users moving between search and chat.

Agent Studio now includes a dedicated Getting Started page and Quick Setup flow for agents. A guided configuration wizard covers data source selection, prompt configuration, entry points, prompt suggestions, conversation features, and safety controls in a single flow. Pre-configured agent templates are available to reduce setup time and accelerate time to first deployment.