Ever feel like trying to find that one specific task or bug in Jira is like looking for a needle in a digital haystack? You know the one – maybe it’s the bug report from three sprints ago, or that feature request from a customer you chatted with last month. Using the standard Jira search, or even getting really good at complex JQL (Jira Query Language), can sometimes feel like a chore. It leaves you sifting through endless lists when you could be, you know, actually getting things done.
But what if finding information in Jira could be as simple as just asking a question? Well, that’s starting to happen thanks to AI. Using artificial intelligence for Jira search is beginning to change how teams work with their project data. This guide will walk you through how AI can help you find information in Jira faster and smarter, and how tools like eesel AI can take these search abilities way beyond the basics.
What you’ll need
To get started with AI-powered search in Jira, you’ll mainly need access to Jira Cloud. Just a heads-up, Jira’s own built-in AI features, called Atlassian Intelligence, are usually part of their Premium and Enterprise plans. So, that’s something to consider based on your current setup.
The good news, though, is that third-party AI tools like eesel AI can connect directly with Jira to boost your search powers. Often, you don’t need to be on the highest Jira tiers just to get the AI search part. Setting things up might need admin permissions in either Jira or the AI tool you pick.
Understanding Jira’s own AI search (Atlassian Intelligence)
Atlassian has been adding AI into its products, and Jira Cloud is definitely getting some of that love. They call this layer Atlassian Intelligence, and one of the main ways it helps in Jira is by making it easier to search for work items.
The main idea here is pretty cool: it takes what you type in everyday, natural language and turns it into Jira Query Language (JQL) code. Think of it like having a little helper who translates your thoughts into the technical language Jira understands. Instead of needing to remember all the specific JQL fields, operators, and keywords, you can just type what you’re looking for in a normal sentence, just like you’d ask a teammate.
You can usually find this feature right in the main search bar or inside the “All work navigator” in Jira. Just look for the AI option near the search box.
For example, instead of typing something like project = "Marketing" AND statusCategory != Done AND created >= startOfWeek("-4w"), you could potentially just type conversational queries like these:
- “Show me all open tasks in the Marketing project created in the last month”
- “What work items are assigned to me that are high priority?”
- “Find unresolved bugs from the last sprint”
This natural language ability is meant to make it much easier to find specific information, especially for anyone who isn’t a JQL wizard.
How to use natural language queries in Jira
Using natural language to search just feels right because it’s how we talk every day. In Jira, this means you can describe the tasks or issues you’re trying to find instead of having to build a formal query.
Want to get the best results when using natural language with AI? Here’s the secret: be specific. The more details you give, the better the AI can figure out what you mean and translate it correctly into JQL.
Let’s look at a couple of examples comparing vague vs. specific queries:
- Not-so-great query: “Find issues about the website” (This is too broad; you might get a ton of irrelevant stuff).
- Much better query: “Show all unresolved bugs related to the homepage in the ‘Website Redesign’ project” (See how specific that is? Project, status, and even a component).
- Not-so-great query: “Tickets from last week” (Doesn’t say what kind of tickets, which project, or their status).
- Much better query: “List all customer support tickets created last week that are still open” (Specifies the type, timeframe, and status).
When you type in your natural language question, Atlassian Intelligence processes it and creates the right JQL for you. Jira then uses that JQL to pull up the work items you asked for. This whole process can save you time and hassle, especially if you’re not comfortable writing JQL from scratch.
Why boost your Jira search with other AI tools?
While Jira’s built-in Atlassian Intelligence is a good start, it does have its limits. Especially when you need to search for things outside of just Jira tasks. According to Atlassian’s own info, their AI search works best for finding Jira work items using the fields in your project. It’s not as helpful for finding information that lives somewhere else. It also isn’t designed to look at work items and create summaries or charts, or to search for things other than work items (like finding a specific project or a user).
Here’s the reality of how most of us work today: information isn’t all neatly tucked away in one place. You’ve got:
- Project plans in Confluence
- Customer feedback in support tickets
- Design files in Google Drive
- Important discussions happening in Slack
Getting the full picture often means hopping between different apps, doing separate searches in each one, and trying to manually piece everything together. This problem of “siloed knowledge” – where information is stuck in different tools – really slows us down.
This is exactly why adding third-party AI tools to your Jira search is super helpful. These platforms are built specifically to connect to all your different work tools and give you one single place to search. They let you ask questions and find the right information no matter where it lives – whether it’s a Jira issue, a Confluence page, a Slack chat, or a document in Google Drive.
How to enhance Jira search with eesel AI
eesel AI is made to plug into your existing tools, including Jira, to create a smarter, more connected way of workin. Its main strength, when we’re talking about search, is giving you a single, smart search experience across Jira and all the other places you keep information.
Think of eesel AI like a central brain that understands all the information scattered across your digital workspace. You can connect it to your Jira account, plus other platforms like:
- Confluence
- Google Docs
- Slack
- Microsoft Teams
- and over 100 others
Once everything’s connected, you’re not just stuck searching inside Jira using its own AI or JQL. With eesel AI, you can ask natural language questions and get answers that pull relevant details from Jira issues, related documentation in Confluence, conversations in Slack channels, or specs saved in Google Drive – all from one simple spot. This directly tackles that “siloed knowledge” problem by making all your company’s information easy to find and search.
Here are a couple of ways eesel AI enhances your Jira search:
- Unified Search: Get instant, relevant answers that pull from Jira and all your other connected work tools, eliminating the need to search in multiple places.
- AI Assistant (Copilot): Use the browser extension to get help finding information related to your current task, pulling details from Jira and other sources without switching tabs.
eesel AI also has an AI Assistant (or Copilot) feature that can work right alongside you in your browser. This means you can get help finding information related to whatever task you’re currently doing, pulling from Jira and all those other connected places, without having to switch tabs or apps.
Tips, things to watch out, and questions about AI Jira search
Getting the most out of AI-powered search in Jira, whether you’re using the built-in feature or an enhanced tool, means following a few simple tips.
Here are some pointers for crafting better queries:
- Be specific: Add details like project names, dates, who the task is assigned to, its status, or keywords from the work items. Instead of just “Find that bug,” try “Show me unresolved bugs in the ‘Mobile App’ project assigned to Sarah.”
- Use conversational language: Ask your question or make your request like you’re talking to someone, but keep it focused on exactly what info you need. “What are the requirements for the new login feature?” works better than just “Login feature.”
- Say what kind of info you want (especially with unified search): If you’re using a tool like eesel AI that searches everywhere, make it clear what you’re looking for. For example, “Find the requirements doc for Project X in Confluence” or “Show me unresolved bugs in the latest sprint in Jira.”
Here are a few things to watch out for:
- Being too vague: AI needs context. Asking for “Show me issues” will probably just give you a lot of noise.
- Not connecting your sources: If you’re using a tool that searches across multiple apps, make sure you’ve actually connected all the places where your information might be.
- Forgetting about permissions: Good AI search tools should respect the permissions you already have. If you can’t see something in Jira normally, the AI shouldn’t show it to you either.
Got questions? Let’s tackle some common ones about AI Jira search:
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is my data safe with AI search? | Trustworthy tools like Atlassian Intelligence and eesel AI prioritize security and privacy. Check their trust centers for details. |
| How does better search help me get more done? | Finding information faster reduces time spent searching and app-switching, freeing up time for core tasks and boosting overall productivity. |
| Can AI search find things in comments or attachments? | Jira’s native AI may focus on main fields. Tools like eesel AI can often search within documents and comments for deeper context. |
Make your Jira search smarter today
AI is really changing how we work with our tools, and searching in Jira is a perfect example. Whether you use the built-in Atlassian Intelligence to turn your natural language into JQL or go for a more complete solution, the benefits are pretty clear: it’s easier to ask questions, you get results faster, and you don’t have to rely on remembering complicated syntax.
Moving past the old way of searching with just keywords and JQL helps you find valuable information hidden inside Jira. But the real power comes when you can search across all your work tools.
See how eesel AI can connect to Jira and all your other tools to give you instant, relevant answers right when you need them. Ready to see what unified AI search can do? Start a free trial or book a demo to see eesel AI in action.
