Anthropic appears to be using Brave to power web search for its Claude chatbot

Tech Crunch - Mar 21st, 2025
Open on Tech Crunch

Earlier this week, Anthropic introduced a web search feature for its AI chatbot platform, Claude, aligning it with many of its competitors. Although it was initially unclear which search index was powering this feature, evidence suggests that Brave Search, the search engine run by Brave, is behind it. Software engineer Antonio Zugaldia discovered that Anthropic had added 'Brave Search' to the 'subprocessor list' in its documentation, indicating Brave's involvement. Additionally, British programmer Simon Willison noted similarities in search results between Claude and Brave, along with a parameter in Claude's web search function named 'BraveSearchParams.' This move signifies a growing trend of AI companies partnering with search engines to enhance their offerings.

The inclusion of Brave Search in Claude's functionality highlights the increasingly competitive landscape of AI-powered chatbots. By leveraging Brave's search capabilities, Anthropic potentially gains an edge in delivering accurate and up-to-date information to users. This development is part of a broader strategy among AI firms to keep their search index partnerships private, likely to maintain a competitive advantage. Similar collaborations include OpenAI's partnership with Bing for ChatGPT, though it also uses undisclosed sources. The significance of these partnerships underscores the importance of robust search capabilities in enhancing the utility and appeal of AI chatbots in an evolving digital age.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.4
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides a timely and mostly accurate account of Anthropic's new web search feature for its AI chatbot, Claude, and the potential involvement of Brave Search. The story is clear and accessible, with a logical structure that aids comprehension. However, it relies heavily on indirect evidence and lacks official confirmations from the companies involved, affecting its accuracy and source quality. The article could benefit from a more balanced presentation of perspectives, including statements from Anthropic and Brave. While it engages readers interested in AI developments, its speculative nature may limit its impact and broader public interest.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The story presents a factual account of Anthropic's rollout of a web search feature for its AI chatbot, Claude. The claim that Brave Search might be powering this feature is supported by evidence such as the addition of "Brave Search" to Anthropic's subprocessor list and identical citations found between Claude and Brave. However, these claims need direct confirmation from Anthropic or Brave to be fully verified. The mention of OpenAI's partnership with Bing is a well-known fact, adding to the story's credibility. Overall, while the story is mostly accurate, it relies on indirect evidence and observations that require further verification.

6
Balance

The article primarily focuses on Anthropic and its potential partnership with Brave, offering limited perspectives. It does mention other AI companies like OpenAI, providing some context within the industry. However, the story lacks viewpoints from Anthropic, Brave, or other industry experts, which could provide a more balanced understanding of the implications of such partnerships. The absence of these perspectives may lead to a skewed representation of the situation, focusing mainly on speculation rather than confirmed facts.

8
Clarity

The article is well-structured and clearly communicates the main points regarding Anthropic's new feature and its potential reliance on Brave Search. The language is straightforward, making the technical aspects accessible to a general audience. The logical flow from the introduction of the new feature to the evidence supporting the Brave Search connection is coherent. However, the story could benefit from clearer differentiation between confirmed facts and speculative elements to enhance reader comprehension.

5
Source quality

The sources cited in the article, such as software engineer Antonio Zugaldia and programmer Simon Willison, offer credible insights but are not official representatives of the companies involved. The story relies on observations and indirect evidence rather than statements from Anthropic or Brave, which diminishes the source quality. The lack of direct quotes or official confirmations from the companies involved affects the reliability of the information presented. While the sources are knowledgeable, their observations need to be corroborated by primary sources.

6
Transparency

The article outlines the basis for its claims, such as the addition of "Brave Search" to the subprocessor list and identical search results. However, it does not fully disclose the methodology behind these observations or the context of the broader industry practices. The story mentions reaching out to Anthropic for confirmation, which demonstrates some level of transparency in seeking verification. Yet, without further explanation of how the conclusions were drawn, the transparency remains limited.

Sources

  1. https://www.searchenginejournal.com/anthropic-claude-web-search/542639/
  2. https://20fix.com
  3. https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/20/anthropic-adds-web-search-to-its-claude-chatbot/
  4. https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/21/chatgpt-everything-to-know-about-the-ai-chatbot/
  5. https://www.macrumors.com/2025/03/21/anthropic-claude-gets-web-search/