> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.bowerlabs.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Hybrid search is now always on

> Global search blends keyword matching and semantic similarity by default — no toggle, no second query.

**Shipped 2026-04-17 · Search**

Global search now runs both a keyword search and a semantic search in
parallel and merges the results. You don't pick a mode; you don't run two
queries; you just type.

## What changed

Previously, hybrid (semantic) search lived behind a feature flag and
required opting in for some workspaces. As of today it's the default for
everyone, on every search surface — global Cmd+K, page-level filters, and
Bird's internal retrieval.

## Why this matters

Keyword search finds notes that contain the exact word you typed. Semantic
search finds notes that mean the same thing as what you typed, even if the
wording is different. Real searches benefit from both — the keyword side
handles "find note titled 2026-03-14" and the semantic side handles "find
the experiment where the gel ran funny."

You no longer have to choose, and you no longer have to remember which
words you used in March.

## Related docs

* [Hybrid semantic search](/ai-and-search/hybrid-search)