Anthropic has introduced a Claude web search feature for its AI chatbot, aligning it with competitors that offer internet-based results. While the company initially didn’t disclose which search engine was powering the feature, new findings indicate that Brave Search is providing the data behind Claude’s real-time responses.
Brave Search Powers Claude Web Search
The speculation about Brave Search being the backbone of Claude’s search functionality gained traction when software engineer Antonio Zugaldia discovered an update in Anthropic’s official documentation. Brave Search was recently added to the company’s “subprocessor list,” a section that outlines third-party services involved in handling Claude’s data.
Further confirmation came from British programmer Simon Willison, who found that search results from Claude and Brave produced identical citations. Additionally, he discovered a technical parameter embedded in Claude’s web search tool labeled “BraveSearchParams”—strong evidence linking Anthropic’s AI to Brave’s search engine.
Anthropic Joins Other AI Models in Using Brave’s Search
Brave’s search technology is already used by other AI chatbot platforms. In February 2024, Brave and AI startup Mistral confirmed that Le Chat, Mistral’s chatbot platform, would use Brave’s search API to retrieve live web results.
This trend suggests that Brave Search is becoming a key player in AI-powered search, providing an alternative to traditional giants like Google and Bing.
Why AI Companies Keep Search Partnerships Under Wraps
AI companies tend to be secretive about their search engine partnerships, likely due to competitive concerns. OpenAI, for example, has a well-known collaboration with Microsoft Bing, but the company also integrates data from undisclosed sources to enhance its search results in ChatGPT.
Anthropic’s decision to use Brave Search instead of developing its own search index is significant. It highlights how smaller, privacy-focused search engines like Brave are gaining traction in the AI landscape.
What This Means for Claude Users
For users of Claude, this integration means that the AI chatbot can now retrieve real-time, privacy-focused search results powered by Brave. Unlike other major search providers, Brave Search is known for being ad-free and independent, as it doesn’t rely on Google’s or Bing’s infrastructure.
This move could give Anthropic a competitive edge, particularly for users who prioritize privacy and unbiased search results when using AI-powered chatbots.
Will Other AI Chatbots Follow?
With Anthropic and Mistral already adopting Brave Search, it raises the question of whether other AI companies will follow suit. As AI-driven search experiences become more common, partnerships between chatbots and independent search engines could reshape how users interact with web-based AI models.
For now, Claude’s web search is live, and if Brave Search is indeed the engine behind it, users may experience a more private and independent alternative to the AI-powered search options provided by Google and Microsoft.
Would you trust an AI chatbot using Brave Search over one powered by Google or Bing? Let us know your thoughts!
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