> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://arizeai-433a7140.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# 08.25.2026: Smarter PXI Workflows and Retrieval Evaluation

> PXI completes multi-step UI workflows with approval-gated changes, a new evaluator scores retrievals from any source, and new trace and REST tools speed up analysis and administration.

This release helps you move from question to action faster. PXI can complete multi-step workflows
across the Phoenix UI, a new evaluator measures whether retrieved information is useful, and new
trace and REST tools reduce repetitive work.

# Complete Multi-Step Workflows with PXI

August 25, 2026

**Available in arize-phoenix 20.4.0+**

PXI can now discover the actions available on the current page and combine them into a single
workflow. For example, it can select a model, run the playground, and inspect the output in one
turn.

* **Work across the UI in fewer turns** — PXI can read page state, make decisions, and perform
  several actions as one workflow.
* **Stay in control of GraphQL changes** — in manual edit-permission mode, Phoenix shows each
  proposed mutation with Accept and Reject controls before applying it. Approval requests remain
  available after a page reload.
* **Navigate with approval** — PXI asks before moving to another page and stops if you reject the
  request.
* **Query Phoenix data directly** — PXI can use Phoenix's read-only REST and analytics SQL tools
  without a network round trip or separate MCP configuration.
* **Recover from unavailable actions** — when an action is not available on the current page, PXI
  receives guidance about where it can run.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="PXI" icon="robot" href="/docs/phoenix/pxi">
    Learn about the AI engineering agent built into Phoenix
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

# Evaluate Retrieval Relevance Across Any Source

August 21, 2026

**Available in arize-phoenix-evals 3.5.0+ (Python) and @arizeai/phoenix-evals 2.3.0+ (TypeScript)**

Use the new Retrieval Relevance evaluator to measure whether retrieved information helps answer
the request it was meant to serve. It evaluates the combined result of each retrieval step,
whether the content came from vector search, a tool or MCP call, web search, or a SQL query.

The evaluator returns a `relevant` or `irrelevant` label, a numeric score, and the judge's
explanation.

```python theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light-default","dark":"github-dark-default"}}
from phoenix.evals import LLM
from phoenix.evals.metrics import RetrievalRelevanceEvaluator

llm = LLM(provider="openai", model="gpt-4o")
evaluator = RetrievalRelevanceEvaluator(llm=llm)

scores = evaluator.evaluate(
    {
        "input": "What is the return policy?",
        "context": "Customers can return purchases within 30 days.",
    }
)
print(scores[0])
```

```typescript theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light-default","dark":"github-dark-default"}}
import { openai } from "@ai-sdk/openai";
import { createRetrievalRelevanceEvaluator } from "@arizeai/phoenix-evals";

const evaluator = createRetrievalRelevanceEvaluator({
  model: openai("gpt-4o"),
});

const result = await evaluator.evaluate({
  input: "What is the return policy?",
  context: "Customers can return purchases within 30 days.",
});
console.log(result.label);
```

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Retrieval Relevance" icon="magnifying-glass" href="/docs/phoenix/evaluation/pre-built-metrics/retrieval-relevance">
    Choose spans to score, format inputs, and customize the evaluation prompt
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

# Build Focused Trace Views Faster

August 25, 2026

**Available in arize-phoenix 20.4.0+**

New filtering and table controls make it easier to move from a broad project view to the traces
that need attention.

* **Write trace filters in plain English** — toggle AI query in the trace filter field, describe
  the traces you want, and press Enter to generate a validated filter expression. Press Escape to
  restore the previous expression.
* **Zoom into a chart interval with one click** — click a project metric chart bin to apply its
  exact time range to the page, or drag across the chart to select a wider interval.
* **Compare annotations in dedicated columns** — show, hide, and reorder individual annotation
  columns on the spans, traces, and sessions tables. Hover for details or add a matching filter
  from the cell popover.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Filter Expressions" icon="filter" href="/docs/phoenix/tracing/how-to-tracing/filter-expressions">
    Learn how to filter spans, traces, and sessions
  </Card>

  <Card title="Annotations" icon="pen" href="/docs/phoenix/tracing/how-to-tracing/feedback-and-annotations">
    Record and review feedback on spans, traces, and sessions
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

# Manage Retention and Model Providers over REST

August 25, 2026

**Available in arize-phoenix 20.4.0+**

The v1 REST API now supports project retention assignments and model-provider discovery.

* **`PATCH /v1/projects/{project_identifier}/retention`** — assign an existing trace retention
  policy to a project or reset the project to the default policy. This admin-only endpoint changes
  the assignment; it does not create or modify policies.
* **`GET /v1/model_providers`** — list the built-in provider families enabled for the deployment.
* **`GET /v1/custom_model_providers`** — list user-defined providers with cursor pagination.
  Phoenix never returns encrypted provider credentials.

Assign a retention policy:

```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light-default","dark":"github-dark-default"}}
curl -X PATCH "$PHOENIX_ENDPOINT/v1/projects/my-project/retention" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $PHOENIX_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"policy_id": "UHJvamVjdFRyYWNlUmV0ZW50aW9uUG9saWN5OjI="}'
```

Reset a project to the default policy by sending `{"policy_id": null}`.

List the built-in model providers:

```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light-default","dark":"github-dark-default"}}
curl "$PHOENIX_ENDPOINT/v1/model_providers" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $PHOENIX_API_KEY"
```

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Data Retention" icon="clock-rotate-left" href="/docs/phoenix/settings/data-retention">
    Define and assign trace retention policies
  </Card>

  <Card title="Custom AI Providers" icon="plug" href="/docs/phoenix/settings/custom-ai-providers">
    Configure providers beyond the built-in families
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

# Additional Improvements

August 20–25, 2026

**Available in arize-phoenix 20.4.0+ and arize-phoenix-evals 3.5.1+**

* **Use native scrollbars** — enable your browser and operating system's scrollbar style from
  Profile → Accessibility.
* **Get clearer not-found pages** — missing resources and unmatched URLs now show a useful 404
  page instead of a blank page or generic error.
* **Submit login forms with Enter** without navigating to the forgot-password page.
* **Read long filters and share tooltips more easily** without content overflowing clipped
  layouts.
* **Track current model costs** with refreshed built-in token prices and preserved prompt-cache
  usage from the OpenAI-compatible `/v1/chat/completions` proxy.
* **Use Anthropic SDK v1 with Phoenix Evals** by upgrading `anthropic` alongside
  `arize-phoenix-evals` 3.5.1+.