Anthropic has announced the launch of a new API that enables its AI model, Claude, to perform web searches. This move allows developers to create Claude-powered applications that deliver the latest information to users, according to a press release published on Wednesday. The rollout is part of a broader strategy by AI companies to enhance their models and attract new users to their platforms. Last week, Anthropic also introduced a tool for connecting applications to Claude, along with an expanded "deep research" capability that enables Claude to search through enterprise accounts and websites. "By enabling the web search tool, developers can augment Claude’s comprehensive knowledge with current, real-world data," Anthropic stated in its release. "This feature allows for the creation of AI solutions that can access the most recent information without the need to set up and maintain their own web search infrastructure." When the web search API is activated, Claude uses its reasoning capabilities to decide if a given request requires up-to-date information or specialized knowledge. If so, Claude generates a search query, retrieves relevant results, analyzes them, and provides an answer complete with citations. The system is designed to refine its queries and conduct multiple searches, leveraging earlier findings to improve the accuracy and relevance of its responses. Developers have the flexibility to customize this behavior, specifying which domains Claude is allowed to search and which should be prohibited. They can also control web search use at the organizational level, giving them granular control over how Claude interacts with external sources. Anthropic is further enhancing Claude's capabilities by integrating web search into Claude Code, a tool aimed at developers looking to leverage AI for coding tasks. With web search enabled, Claude Code can access the latest API documentation, technical articles, and other resources related to development tools and libraries. This integration allows developers to stay up-to-date with current best practices and information, streamlining the coding process. Claude Code, however, remains in the beta stage as a research preview, meaning it is still being refined and tested for optimal performance and reliability. These developments underscore Anthropic's commitment to making its AI models more versatile and powerful. By providing developers with the ability to incorporate real-time data and specialized knowledge, Anthropic aims to position Claude as a leading choice for building advanced, dynamic applications. The company's focus on customization and control also addresses concerns about data privacy and security, ensuring that developers can tailor Claude's web search functionality to meet their specific needs.