diff --git a/src/ghes-releases/lib/release-templates/release-steps-0.md b/src/ghes-releases/lib/release-templates/release-steps-0.md
index 0af6bcc4bb06..edce01ffb755 100644
--- a/src/ghes-releases/lib/release-templates/release-steps-0.md
+++ b/src/ghes-releases/lib/release-templates/release-steps-0.md
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ labels:
   - skip FR board
   - GHES {{ release-number }}
   - ghes-release-automation
+  - rhythm of docs operations
 ---
 
 This issue tracks Docs work for the GA release of GHES {{ release-number }}.
@@ -26,11 +27,11 @@ This issue tracks Docs work for the GA release of GHES {{ release-number }}.
 
 ## Instructions for triage
 
-- [ ] In the Enterprise project, adjust the "Cycle" field to the cycle containing the target date.
+- [ ] Add this issue to the [Rhythm of Docs: Operations](https://github.com/orgs/github/projects/20190) project.
+- [ ] For assignee: if needed, add this issue to your persona team project for tracking purposes.
 
 <br/>
 
-```[tasklist]
 # Tasks
 - [ ] {{ release-steps-1-url }}
 - [ ] {{ release-steps-2-url }}
@@ -43,7 +44,6 @@ This issue tracks Docs work for the GA release of GHES {{ release-number }}.
 - [ ] After merging PR for RC, notify the API team in [#ecosystem-api](https://github.slack.com/archives/C1042T6MS) on Slack that they can now merge "Update OpenAPI 3.x Descriptions" PRs in [`github/rest-api-description`](https://github.com/github/rest-api-description/pulls), which you blocked as part of the issue for preparing OpenAPI assets.
 - [ ] Notify the Docs Content first responder (`@TBD`) that they can now merge OpenAPI PRs.
 - [ ] To close this issue, open a PR to complete [these steps](https://github.com/github/docs-content/issues/12972#issuecomment-1947981671).
-```
 
 ## Resources
 
diff --git a/src/ghes-releases/lib/release-templates/release-steps-1.md b/src/ghes-releases/lib/release-templates/release-steps-1.md
index a8eae61373d0..677df370f0c1 100644
--- a/src/ghes-releases/lib/release-templates/release-steps-1.md
+++ b/src/ghes-releases/lib/release-templates/release-steps-1.md
@@ -5,12 +5,14 @@ labels:
   - new-release
   - priority-0
   - skip FR board
+  - rhythm of docs operations
   - GHES {{ release-number }}
 ---
 
 ## Instructions for triage
 
-- [ ] In the Enterprise project, adjust the "Cycle" field to the cycle containing the target date.
+- [ ] Add this issue to the [Rhythm of Docs: Operations](https://github.com/orgs/github/projects/20190) project.
+- [ ] For assignee: if needed, add this issue to your persona team project for tracking purposes.
 
 ## Instructions for assignee
 
diff --git a/src/ghes-releases/lib/release-templates/release-steps-2.md b/src/ghes-releases/lib/release-templates/release-steps-2.md
index 45c2c15840b7..93f61b3e4551 100644
--- a/src/ghes-releases/lib/release-templates/release-steps-2.md
+++ b/src/ghes-releases/lib/release-templates/release-steps-2.md
@@ -6,11 +6,13 @@ labels:
   - priority-0
   - skip FR board
   - GHES {{ release-number }}
+  - rhythm of docs operations
 ---
 
 ## Instructions for triage
 
-- [ ] In the Enterprise project, adjust the "Cycle" field to the cycle **four weeks** before the target date.
+- [ ] Add this issue to the [Rhythm of Docs: Operations](https://github.com/orgs/github/projects/20190) project.
+- [ ] For assignee: if needed, add this issue to your persona team project for tracking purposes.
 
 ## Instructions for assignee
 
diff --git a/src/ghes-releases/lib/release-templates/release-steps-5.md b/src/ghes-releases/lib/release-templates/release-steps-5.md
index 0bc799d1e533..5ddfa696f2ba 100644
--- a/src/ghes-releases/lib/release-templates/release-steps-5.md
+++ b/src/ghes-releases/lib/release-templates/release-steps-5.md
@@ -6,11 +6,13 @@ labels:
   - new-release
   - priority-0
   - skip FR board
+  - rhythm of docs operations
 ---
 
 ## Instructions for triage
 
-- [ ] In the Enterprise focus area's project, adjust the "Cycle" field for this issue to the cycle four weeks before the target date.
+- [ ] Add this issue to the [Rhythm of Docs: Operations](https://github.com/orgs/github/projects/20190) project.
+- [ ] For assignee: if needed, add this issue to your persona team project for tracking purposes.
 
 ## Instructions for assignee
 
@@ -83,7 +85,7 @@ To prepare for publication, create a PR in `github/github` that publishes the sc
 
 - [ ] Create a PR.
 
-- [ ] Get the necessary reviews, but **do not deploy and merge the PR**. You'll merge this PR closer to the RC's release date, while Docs' repositories are frozen.
+- [ ] Get the necessary reviews, but **do not deploy and merge the PR yet**. You'll merge this PR closer to the RC's release date.
 
 <br/>
 <a name="merge">
@@ -92,19 +94,19 @@ To prepare for publication, create a PR in `github/github` that publishes the sc
 
 To trigger creation of an OpenAPI PR with the updated schema for the RC, merge your publication PR in `github/github`.
 
-- [ ] On the Thursday after you begin the freeze of Docs' repositories per {{ release-steps-0-url }}, merge the publication PR you [prepared in `github/github`](#publication-preparation).
+- [ ] 2-3 days before the RC release date, merge the publication PR you [prepared in `github/github`](#publication-preparation).
 
-- [ ] In [#ecosystem-api](https://github.slack.com/archives/C1042T6MS) on Slack, update and then post the following message to notify the team of the upcoming release. Replace VERSION with the version we're releasing.
+- [ ] In [#api-platform](https://github.slack.com/archives/C1042T6MS) on Slack, update and then post the following message to notify the team of the upcoming release. Replace VERSION with the version we're releasing.
 
   > 👋 Hi from Docs! We have just marked `published` for the GHES VERSION release configuration to `true`. Please **do not** merge subsequent "Update OpenAPI 3.x Descriptions" PRs [in github/rest-api-description](https://github.com/github/rest-api-description/pulls) until further notice. Thanks!
 
-- [ ] On the Friday during the freeze, locate the latest "Update OpenAPI 3.x Descriptions" PRs [in `github/rest-api-description`](https://github.com/github/rest-api-description/pulls).
+- [ ] Locate the latest "Update OpenAPI 3.x Descriptions" PRs [in `github/rest-api-description`](https://github.com/github/rest-api-description/pulls).
 
 - [ ] On each new PR, leave a review that requests changes with the following comment.
 
   > This PR contains changes for the upcoming GHES RC. Please do not merge this or subsequent PRs until further notice in #ecosystem-api. Thanks!
 
-- [ ] From now until after the freeze, all [existing "Update OpenAPI Description" PRs](https://github.com/github/docs-internal/labels/github-openapi-bot) in `github/docs-internal` can be closed.
+- [ ] From now until the RC ships, all [existing "Update OpenAPI Description" PRs](https://github.com/github/docs-internal/labels/github-openapi-bot) in `github/docs-internal` can be closed.
 
 To get the latest changes from the latest "Update OpenAPI 3.x Descriptions" PR in the `github/rest-api-description` repository into your PR to close {{ release-steps-1-url }}, you can use one of two methods.
 
diff --git a/src/search/lib/ai-search-proxy.ts b/src/search/lib/ai-search-proxy.ts
index 3eebf7ba3dbf..54d3d28146fb 100644
--- a/src/search/lib/ai-search-proxy.ts
+++ b/src/search/lib/ai-search-proxy.ts
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
 import { Request, Response } from 'express'
+import statsd from '@/observability/lib/statsd'
 import got from 'got'
 import { getHmacWithEpoch } from '@/search/lib/helpers/get-cse-copilot-auth'
-import { getCSECopilotSource } from '#src/search/lib/helpers/cse-copilot-docs-versions.js'
+import { getCSECopilotSource } from '@/search/lib/helpers/cse-copilot-docs-versions'
 
 const memoryCache = new Map<string, Buffer>()
 
 export const aiSearchProxy = async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
   const { query, version, language } = req.body
+
   const errors = []
 
   // Validate request body
@@ -34,13 +36,25 @@ export const aiSearchProxy = async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
     return
   }
 
+  const diagnosticTags = [
+    `version:${version}`.slice(0, 200),
+    `language:${language}`.slice(0, 200),
+    `queryLength:${query.length}`.slice(0, 200),
+  ]
+  statsd.increment('ai-search.call', 1, diagnosticTags)
+
+  // TODO: Caching here may cause an issue if the cache grows too large. Additionally, the cache will be inconsistent across pods
   const cacheKey = `${query}:${version}:${language}`
   if (memoryCache.has(cacheKey)) {
+    statsd.increment('ai-search.cache_hit', 1, diagnosticTags)
     res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/x-ndjson')
     res.send(memoryCache.get(cacheKey))
     return
   }
 
+  const startTime = Date.now()
+  let totalChars = 0
+
   const body = {
     chat_context: 'docs',
     docs_source: docsSource,
@@ -57,22 +71,19 @@ export const aiSearchProxy = async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
       },
     })
 
-    const chunks: Buffer[] = []
-    stream.on('data', (chunk) => {
-      chunks.push(chunk)
+    // Listen for data events to count characters
+    stream.on('data', (chunk: Buffer | string) => {
+      // Ensure we have a string for proper character count
+      const dataStr = typeof chunk === 'string' ? chunk : chunk.toString()
+      totalChars += dataStr.length
     })
 
     // Handle the upstream response before piping
     stream.on('response', (upstreamResponse) => {
-      // When cse-copilot returns a 204, it means the backend received the request
-      // but was unable to answer the question. So we return a 400 to the client to be handled.
-      if (upstreamResponse.statusCode === 204) {
-        return res
-          .status(400)
-          .json({ errors: [{ message: 'Sorry I am unable to answer this question.' }] })
-      } else if (upstreamResponse.statusCode !== 200) {
+      if (upstreamResponse.statusCode !== 200) {
         const errorMessage = `Upstream server responded with status code ${upstreamResponse.statusCode}`
         console.error(errorMessage)
+        statsd.increment('ai-search.stream_response_error', 1, diagnosticTags)
         res.status(500).json({ errors: [{ message: errorMessage }] })
         stream.destroy()
       } else {
@@ -95,6 +106,8 @@ export const aiSearchProxy = async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
           .json({ errors: [{ message: 'Sorry I am unable to answer this question.' }] })
       }
 
+      statsd.increment('ai-search.stream_error', 1, diagnosticTags)
+
       if (!res.headersSent) {
         res.status(500).json({ errors: [{ message: 'Internal server error' }] })
       } else {
@@ -106,12 +119,19 @@ export const aiSearchProxy = async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
       }
     })
 
-    // Ensure response ends when stream ends
+    // Calculate metrics on stream end
     stream.on('end', () => {
-      memoryCache.set(cacheKey, Buffer.concat(chunks as Uint8Array[]))
+      const totalResponseTime = Date.now() - startTime // in ms
+      const charPerMsRatio = totalResponseTime > 0 ? totalChars / totalResponseTime : 0 // chars per ms
+
+      statsd.gauge('ai-search.total_response_time', totalResponseTime, diagnosticTags)
+      statsd.gauge('ai-search.response_chars_per_ms', charPerMsRatio, diagnosticTags)
+
+      statsd.increment('ai-search.success_stream_end', 1, diagnosticTags)
       res.end()
     })
   } catch (error) {
+    statsd.increment('ai-search.route_error', 1, diagnosticTags)
     console.error('Error posting /answers to cse-copilot:', error)
     res.status(500).json({ errors: [{ message: 'Internal server error' }] })
   }