Merge pull request #2550 from HeidiSteen/heidist-semantic

[azure search] Semantic ranker on by default

Author: prmerger-automator[bot]

articles/search/hybrid-search-how-to-query.md

@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ POST https://{{search-service-name}}.search.windows.net/indexes/{{index-name}}/d
 
 ## Semantic hybrid search
 
-Assuming that you [enabled semantic ranker](semantic-how-to-enable-disable.md) and your index definition includes a [semantic configuration](semantic-how-to-query-request.md), you can formulate a query that includes vector search and keyword search, with semantic ranking over the merged result set. Optionally, you can add captions and answers. 
+Assuming that you [have semantic ranker](semantic-how-to-enable-disable.md) and your index definition includes a [semantic configuration](semantic-how-to-query-request.md), you can formulate a query that includes vector search and keyword search, with semantic ranking over the merged result set. Optionally, you can add captions and answers. 
 
 Whenever you use semantic ranking with vectors, make sure `k` is set to 50. Semantic ranker uses up to 50 matches as input. Specifying less than 50 deprives the semantic ranking models of necessary inputs.
 

articles/search/search-manage-rest.md

@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ PATCH https://management.azure.com/subscriptions/{{subscriptionId}}/resourcegrou
 
 ## Disable semantic ranker
 
-Although [semantic ranker isn't enabled](semantic-how-to-enable-disable.md) by default, you could lock down the feature at the service level for greater certainty it can't be used.
+[Semantic ranker is enabled](semantic-how-to-enable-disable.md) by default at the free plan that allows up to 1,000 requests per month at no charge. You can lock down the feature at the service level to prevent usage.
 
 ```http
 ### disable semantic ranker

articles/search/search-manage.md

@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ Internally, Microsoft collects telemetry data about your service and the platfor
 
 ### Enable semantic ranker
 
-Semantic ranker is free for the first 1,000 requests per month, but you must opt in to get the free quota. 
+Semantic ranker is free for the first 1,000 requests per month. It's enabled by default on newer services.
 
 In Azure portal, under **Settings** on the leftmost pane, select **Semantic ranker** and then choose the Free plan. For more information, see [Enable semantic ranker](semantic-how-to-enable-disable.md).
 

articles/search/semantic-how-to-enable-disable.md

@@ -10,20 +10,20 @@ ms.service: azure-ai-search
 ms.custom:
   - ignite-2023
 ms.topic: how-to
-ms.date: 12/10/2024
+ms.date: 01/28/2025
 ---
 
 # Enable or disable semantic ranker
 
-Semantic ranker is a premium feature billed by usage. By default, semantic ranker is turned off when you create a new search service, but anyone with *Contributor* permissions can enable it. If you don't want anyone enabling it inadvertently, you can [disable it service-wide using the management REST API](#disable-semantic-ranker-using-the-rest-api).
+Semantic ranker is a premium feature billed by usage. By default, semantic ranker is turned on when you create a new billable search service, but anyone with *Contributor* permissions can disable it or change the billing plan. If you don't want anyone to use the feature, you can [disable it service-wide using the management REST API](#disable-semantic-ranker-using-the-rest-api).
 
 ## Check availability
 
 To check if semantic ranker is available in your region, see the [Azure AI Search regions list](search-region-support.md).
 
 ## Enable semantic ranker
 
-Follow these steps to enable [semantic ranker](semantic-search-overview.md) at the service level. Once enabled, it's available to all indexes. You can't turn it on or off for specific indexes.
+Semantic ranker might not be enabled on older services. Follow these steps to enable [semantic ranker](semantic-search-overview.md) at the service level. Once enabled, it's available to all indexes. You can't turn it on or off for specific indexes.
 
 ### [**Azure portal**](#tab/enable-portal)
 
@@ -33,11 +33,11 @@ Follow these steps to enable [semantic ranker](semantic-search-overview.md) at t
 
 1. On the left-navigation pane, select **Settings** > **Semantic ranker**.
 
-1. Select either the **Free plan** or the **Standard plan**. You can switch between the free plan and the standard plan at any time.
+1. Select either the **Free plan** (default) or the **Standard plan**. You can switch between the free plan and the standard plan at any time.
 
    :::image type="content" source="media/semantic-search-overview/semantic-search-billing.png" alt-text="Screenshot of enabling semantic ranking in the Azure portal." border="true":::
 
-The free plan is capped at 1,000 queries per month. After the first 1,000 queries in the free plan, an error message indicates you exhausted your quota on the next semantic query. When quota is exhausted, you should upgrade to the standard plan to continue using semantic ranking.
+The free plan is capped at 1,000 queries per month. After the first 1,000 queries in the free plan, an error message indicates you exhausted your quota on the next semantic query. When quota is exhausted, you can upgrade to the standard plan to continue using semantic ranking.
 
 ### [**REST**](#tab/enable-rest)
 

articles/search/semantic-search-overview.md

@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ The following video provides an overview of the capabilities.
 
 Semantic ranker is available on search services at the Basic and higher tiers, subject to [regional availability](search-region-support.md).
 
-When you enable semantic ranker, choose a pricing plan for the feature:
+When you configure semantic ranker, choose a pricing plan for the feature:
 
 * At lower query volumes (under 1,000 monthly), semantic ranking is free.
 * At higher query volumes, choose the standard pricing plan.
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ Charges for semantic ranker are levied when query requests include `queryType=se
 
 1. [Sign in to Azure portal](https://portal.azure.com) to verify your search service is Basic or higher.
 
-1. [Enable semantic ranker and choose a pricing plan](semantic-how-to-enable-disable.md).
+1. [Configure semantic ranker for the search service, choosing a pricing plan](semantic-how-to-enable-disable.md).
 
 1. [Configure semantic ranker in a search index](semantic-how-to-configure.md).