About the Model Version

A model version is a tested and verified collection of intents and utterances that is used by the Virtual Assistant. Model versions are created, tested, and managed within the Classification Training Utility. 

There are four different options for creating, editing, and managing model versions: 

1. Publish New Model to Prod: Makes an existing model version active for the Virtual Assistant to use.

2. Create New Model Version: Creates, tests, and verifies a brand-new model version that is not tested against any other model versions.

   Note that choosing Create New Model Version only tests intents for the new model version you are creating. If you want to test a model version against the existing model version in production, select the Update Existing Model option. 

• Update Existing Model: This option tests an updated CSV file for an existing model version against the version currently in production, comparing its performance against the performance of the production model. This lets you see where improvements may be needed or how a new set of intents and utterances might perform. 

  1. Re-testing a model version is done if you want to update an existing model version, such as adding new intents or utterances. When this occurs, all the intents contained in the model version’s CSV are tested, not just the new intents that you have added.

  2. Note that when an existing model version is re-tested, it does not overwrite the existing model version, but creates a new one that is then tested against the model version in production. This model version will have its model version number and will appear in the model version list in the intent engine. 

• Revert Existing Model to Stage: Moves an existing model to staging, indicating that it is the most recently created or updated model version. You can use this to remove an existing model version from production if you wish to update it. 

Model Version States

Model versions exist in the following states:

1. Archived: A previously created, tested, and verified model version that is not currently active for use by the Virtual Assistant nor in staging. 

2. Staging: The most recently created or updated model version. 

   Note that new or re-tested model versions are not automatically pushed to production and must be done so via the Publish New Model to Prod option. 

3. Production: A tested and verified model version that is currently being used by the Virtual Assistant to assist customers. 

Any created model version can be published to production, though it is recommended that you publish your most up-to-date model version to production once it is created. 

Related Topics

1. Reviewing and Setting Model Version Testing Criteria

2. Creating or Modifying a Model Version