Merge pull request #6889 from haileytap/release-aug-2025-search

[Azure Search] Add billing details for answer synthesis

Author: prmerger-automator[bot]

articles/search/search-agentic-retrieval-concept.md

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ description: Learn about agentic retrieval concepts, architecture, and use cases
 author: HeidiSteen
 ms.author: heidist
 manager: nitinme
-ms.date: 08/29/2025
+ms.date: 09/02/2025
 ms.service: azure-ai-search
 ms.topic: concept-article
 ms.custom:
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ Agentic retrieval is available in [all regions that provide semantic ranker](sea
 
 Billing for agentic retrieval has two parts:
 
-+ Billing for query planning is pay-as-you-go in Azure OpenAI. It's token based for both input and output tokens. The model you assign to the knowledge agent is the one charged for token usage. For example, if you use gpt-4o, the token charge appears in the bill for gpt-4o.
++ Billing for query planning and [answer synthesis](search-agentic-retrieval-how-to-synthesize.md) (optional) is pay-as-you-go in Azure OpenAI. It's token based for both input and output tokens. The model you assign to the knowledge agent is the one charged for token usage. For example, if you use gpt-4o, the token charge appears in the bill for gpt-4o.
 
 + Billing for semantic ranking during query execution. Billing is suspended during the initial roll-out phase but then transitions to pay-as-you-go on the Azure AI Search side through the semantic ranker. Semantic ranker, which is a premium billable feature, is an integral part of agentic retrieval. You're charged on the Azure AI Search side for token inputs to the semantic ranking models.
 
@@ -144,9 +144,9 @@ Semantic ranking is performed for every subquery in the plan. Semantic ranking c
 
 ### Example: Estimate costs
 
-Agentic retrieval has two billing models: billing from Azure OpenAI (query planning) and billing from Azure AI Search for semantic ranking (query execution).
+Agentic retrieval has two billing models: billing from Azure OpenAI (query planning and, if enabled, answer synthesis) and billing from Azure AI Search for semantic ranking (query execution).
 
-The prices shown in this article are hypothetical. They're used to illustrate the estimation process. Your costs could be lower. For the actual price of transactions, see [Azure OpenAI pricing](https://azure.microsoft.com/pricing/details/cognitive-services/openai-service/#pricing). For query execution, there's no charge for semantic ranking for agentic retrieval in the initial public preview.
+This example omits answer synthesis and uses hypothetical prices to illustrate the estimation process. Your costs could be lower. For the actual price of transactions, see [Azure OpenAI pricing](https://azure.microsoft.com/pricing/details/cognitive-services/openai-service/#pricing). For query execution, there's no charge for semantic ranking for agentic retrieval in the initial public preview.
 
 #### Estimated billing costs for query planning