Allow updating inference_id of semantic_text fields #136120

dimitris-athanasiou · 2025-10-07T17:44:14Z

Previously the inference_id of semantic_text fields was not updatable. This commit allows users to update the inference_id of a semantic_text field. This is particularly useful for scenarios where the user wants to switch to using the same model but from a different service.

There are two circumstances when the update is allowed.

No values have been written for the semantic_text field.

The inference endpoint can be changed freely as there is no need for compatibility between the current and the new endpoint.

The new inference endpoint is compatible with the previous one.

The model_settings of the new inference endpoint are compatible with those of the current endpoint, thus the update is allowed.

Previously the `inference_id` of `semantic_text` fields was not updatable. This commit allows users to update the `inference_id` of a `semantic_text` field. This is particularly useful for scenarios where the user wants to switch to using the same model but from a different service. There are two circumstances when the update is allowed. - No values have been written for the `semantic_text` field. The inference endpoint can be changed freely as there is no need for compatibility between the current and the new endpoint. - The new inference endpoint is compatible with the previous one. The `model_settings` of the new inference endpoint are compatible with those of the current endpoint, thus the update is allowed.

elasticsearchmachine · 2025-10-07T17:44:39Z

Pinging @elastic/search-relevance (Team:Search - Relevance)

elasticsearchmachine · 2025-10-07T17:44:40Z

Pinging @elastic/es-search-foundations (Team:Search Foundations)

elasticsearchmachine · 2025-10-07T17:44:40Z

Hi @dimitris-athanasiou, I've created a changelog YAML for you.

dimitris-athanasiou · 2025-10-07T17:45:19Z

PR is ready for review. However, I intend to add documentation changes soon.

dimitris-athanasiou · 2025-10-07T17:53:28Z

docs/changelog/136120.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+pr: 136120
+summary: Allow updating `inference_id` of `semantic_text` fields
+area: "Search"


Search or Mapping?

I would say mapping

github-actions · 2025-10-08T14:06:34Z

🔍 Preview links for changed docs

docs/reference/elasticsearch/mapping-reference/semantic-text.md

github-actions · 2025-10-08T14:06:35Z

ℹ️ Important: Docs version tagging

👋 Thanks for updating the docs! Just a friendly reminder that our docs are now cumulative. This means all 9.x versions are documented on the same page and published off of the main branch, instead of creating separate pages for each minor version.

We use applies_to tags to mark version-specific features and changes.

Expand for a quick overview

When to use applies_to tags:

✅ At the page level to indicate which products/deployments the content applies to (mandatory)
✅ When features change state (e.g. preview, ga) in a specific version
✅ When availability differs across deployments and environments

What NOT to do:

❌ Don't remove or replace information that applies to an older version
❌ Don't add new information that applies to a specific version without an applies_to tag
❌ Don't forget that applies_to tags can be used at the page, section, and inline level

🤔 Need help?

Check out the cumulative docs guidelines
Reach out in the #docs Slack channel

leemthompo

Couple of very minor wording suggestions from me :)

docs/reference/elasticsearch/mapping-reference/semantic-text.md

Co-authored-by: Liam Thompson <[email protected]>

leemthompo · 2025-10-08T16:13:07Z

docs/reference/elasticsearch/mapping-reference/semantic-text.md

 to create the endpoint. If `search_inference_id` is specified, the {{infer}}
 endpoint will only be used at index time.

+::::{applies-switch}


Forgot to say that I think you can indent this whole applies-switch section a little bit, otherwise LGTM :)

I can't seem to be able to do this.

no worries :)

kderusso

Nice work! I've left a few comments but I think it's pretty close.

kderusso · 2025-10-08T15:54:05Z

docs/changelog/136120.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+pr: 136120
+summary: Allow updating `inference_id` of `semantic_text` fields
+area: "Search"


I would say mapping

docs/reference/elasticsearch/mapping-reference/semantic-text.md

...rc/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/inference/mock/TestSparseInferenceServiceExtension.java

...nference/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/inference/mapper/SemanticTextFieldMapper.java

kderusso · 2025-10-08T16:37:16Z

...nference/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/inference/mapper/SemanticTextFieldMapper.java

+         * @param modelSettings the new model settings. If null the mapper will be returned unchanged.
+         * @return A mapper with the copied settings applied
+         */
+        private SemanticTextFieldMapper copyWithNewModelSettingsIfNotSet(


So we're doing a null check here before we copy the settings, but we silently ignore if that case happens. Should we throw if it's not null and this method is called?

It could be that it's not null because the update itself contains model_settings. In that case the explicitly set model_settings take precedence.

kderusso · 2025-10-08T16:37:48Z

...c/yamlRestTest/resources/rest-api-spec/test/inference/10_semantic_text_field_mapping_bwc.yml

Didn't review this file, assume it's the same as the other yaml test

...e/src/yamlRestTest/resources/rest-api-spec/test/inference/10_semantic_text_field_mapping.yml

Co-authored-by: Kathleen DeRusso <[email protected]>

Mikep86

Partial review, didn't get to the tests. I'll pick it up next week.

...nference/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/inference/mapper/SemanticTextFieldMapper.java

Co-authored-by: Mike Pellegrini <[email protected]>

dimitris-athanasiou added >enhancement :SearchOrg/Relevance Label for the Search (solution/org) Relevance team :Search Foundations/Search Catch all for Search Foundations v9.3.0 labels Oct 7, 2025

dimitris-athanasiou requested a review from Mikep86 October 7, 2025 17:44

elasticsearchmachine added Team:Search Foundations Meta label for the Search Foundations team in Elasticsearch Team:Search - Relevance The Search organization Search Relevance team labels Oct 7, 2025

Update docs/changelog/136120.yaml

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dimitris-athanasiou added 2 commits October 8, 2025 11:20

Fix InferenceGetServicesIT

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dimitris-athanasiou and others added 2 commits October 8, 2025 18:47

Update docs/reference/elasticsearch/mapping-reference/semantic-text.md

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Co-authored-by: Liam Thompson <[email protected]>

Update docs/reference/elasticsearch/mapping-reference/semantic-text.md

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Co-authored-by: Liam Thompson <[email protected]>

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Update docs/reference/elasticsearch/mapping-reference/semantic-text.md

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Co-authored-by: Kathleen DeRusso <[email protected]>

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Merge branch 'main' into allow-inference-id-updates-for-semantic_text

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Allow updating inference_id of semantic_text fields #136120

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Allow updating inference_id of semantic_text fields #136120

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