Anthropic's Claude chatbot can now search the web too
This update boosts Claude’s accuracy and relevance, helping it compete with AI giants like ChatGPT and Gemini.
Have you ever asked an AI about a recent news event, only to get an outdated or completely wrong answer? That’s been a common problem with Claude, Anthropic’s AI chatbot—until now. Anthropic is finally giving Claude the ability to search the web, closing the gap with competitors like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.
In February, Anthropic released Claude 3.7 Sonnet, the industry’s first hybrid reasoning model. It allows Claude to switch between quick answers and detailed, step-by-step responses with a simple toggle. Now, with web search, Claude can access real-time information and provide answers with clickable citations for fact-checking—a key upgrade from its previous knowledge cutoff in October 2024.
Kelechi Edeh
Now, paid US users can enable web search in the profile settings. Anthropic plans to roll it out to free users and other regions soon. That’s a step toward catching up with OpenAI, which introduced search to paying ChatGPT users last year and made it free for everyone in February.
There’s a risk, though. AI-generated search results aren’t always reliable. A study from the Tow Center for Digital Journalism found that popular chatbots give incorrect answers over 60% of the time. The Guardian also reported that ChatGPT’s search can produce misleading summaries from unreliable sources. Claude’s accuracy will face the same scrutiny.
Anthropic’s decision to combine hybrid reasoning with web search sets Claude apart—but will it be enough? ChatGPT has already integrated search into its free version, and Google’s Gemini benefits from direct access to the company’s massive search infrastructure. That said, Anthropic’s approach to transparency—with clickable citations—could give it an edge in building user trust.
Anthropic’s latest move shows its serious about competing with OpenAI and Google. But the real test is whether Claude can balance speed, accuracy, and thoughtful reasoning. If it succeeds, Claude could challenge the AI giants—if not, it risks getting left behind.
