diff --git a/_posts/2026-07-05-kapa-ai-assistant.md b/_posts/2026-07-05-kapa-ai-assistant.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..385216318 --- /dev/null +++ b/_posts/2026-07-05-kapa-ai-assistant.md @@ -0,0 +1,77 @@ +--- +layout: post +title: "Meet Strimzi's New AI Assistant: Kapa.ai" +date: 2026-07-05 +author: maros_orsak +--- + +If you have visited the [Strimzi website](https://strimzi.io) recently, you may have noticed something new: a small floating button in the bottom-right corner of every page. +That is [Kapa.ai](https://www.kapa.ai/), an AI-powered assistant now available across the entire Strimzi website, ready to help you find answers to your questions about Strimzi and Apache Kafka on Kubernetes. + + + +![Kapa.ai widget on the Strimzi website](/assets/images/posts/2026-07-05-kapa-ai-widget.png) + +### Why We Added an AI Assistant + +As Strimzi has grown, so has the volume of questions from the community. +Many of these questions, whether they come through [Slack](https://slack.cncf.io/), [GitHub Discussions](https://github.com/strimzi/strimzi-kafka-operator/discussions), or issues, are already answered somewhere in our documentation. +But finding the right answer in the right place is not always easy, especially for newcomers. + +Maintainers spend a significant amount of time answering repetitive questions, which takes time away from development, reviews, and other project work. +This is a common challenge across open-source projects, sometimes called the "support tax." + +The [CNCF partnered with Kapa.ai](https://contribute.cncf.io/blog/2026/04/09/reducing-support-tax-cncf-kapa-ai/) to offer AI-powered assistants to all CNCF projects, free of charge. +When we saw the opportunity, we decided to try it out for Strimzi. + +### What Is Kapa.ai? + +Kapa.ai is an AI assistant platform built specifically for technical communities. +Unlike a general-purpose chatbot, it uses Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) to ground its responses in a project's actual knowledge base. +This means answers come from Strimzi's own documentation, GitHub issues, discussions, and other project-specific sources, rather than from a generic language model that might hallucinate. + +### How It Works + +Click the Strimzi icon in the bottom-right corner of any page on the Strimzi website, and a chat window opens. +You can ask questions in natural language, and Kapa.ai will search through the Strimzi knowledge base to find relevant answers. + +![Kapa.ai chat window](/assets/images/posts/2026-07-05-kapa-ai-chat.png) + +Each answer includes references to the source material, so you can verify the information and dive deeper if needed. + +Here are a few examples of questions you could ask: +- "How do I configure TLS for Kafka listeners in Strimzi?" +- "What is the difference between KRaft and ZooKeeper mode in Strimzi?" +- "How do I set up Kafka Connect with Strimzi?" +- "What annotations control certificate renewal?" + +### What Kapa.ai Means for the Community + +The goal is not to replace human interaction. +Strimzi's community channels remain the best place for in-depth discussions, design conversations, and collaboration. + +What Kapa.ai does is handle the common, well-documented questions, so maintainers can focus on the work that needs a human: code reviews, design decisions, mentoring contributors, and pushing the project forward. + +It also helps identify gaps in our documentation. +When the assistant cannot answer a question, that is a signal that we may need to improve our docs in that area. + +### Privacy and Data + +Kapa.ai does **not** use community question-and-answer data for training models or any other purpose. +Your data stays with the project. +You can read more about the CNCF's partnership and data policies in their [announcement blog post](https://contribute.cncf.io/blog/2026/04/09/reducing-support-tax-cncf-kapa-ai/). + +### Try It Out + +Head over to [strimzi.io](https://strimzi.io) and click the floating Strimzi icon in the bottom-right corner. +Ask it anything about Strimzi, and let us know what you think. + +After each answer, you will see "Good Answer" and "Bad Answer" buttons along with an optional text field where you can explain your rating. + +![Kapa.ai feedback buttons](/assets/images/posts/2026-07-05-kapa-ai-chat-feedback.png) + +This feedback loop matters. +Positive ratings confirm that the knowledge base is working well, while negative ratings with a short rationale help us pinpoint where the assistant falls short and where our documentation needs improvement. + +We would love to hear your experience. +Share your feedback on the [#strimzi](https://cloud-native.slack.com/channels/strimzi) Slack channel or open a [GitHub Discussion](https://github.com/strimzi/strimzi-kafka-operator/discussions). \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/assets/images/posts/2026-07-05-kapa-ai-chat-feedback.png b/assets/images/posts/2026-07-05-kapa-ai-chat-feedback.png new file mode 100644 index 000000000..3b696868d Binary files /dev/null and b/assets/images/posts/2026-07-05-kapa-ai-chat-feedback.png differ diff --git a/assets/images/posts/2026-07-05-kapa-ai-chat.png b/assets/images/posts/2026-07-05-kapa-ai-chat.png new file mode 100644 index 000000000..2bd1b92e7 Binary files /dev/null and b/assets/images/posts/2026-07-05-kapa-ai-chat.png differ diff --git a/assets/images/posts/2026-07-05-kapa-ai-widget.png b/assets/images/posts/2026-07-05-kapa-ai-widget.png new file mode 100644 index 000000000..77b7eb8a6 Binary files /dev/null and b/assets/images/posts/2026-07-05-kapa-ai-widget.png differ