Anthropic just launched a new tool that upgrades its Claude AI models with live internet access. The new Anthropic web search API lets developers build AI apps that can search the web for up-to-date information—no need to create their own search systems.
This update is a big step in making AI more useful. It helps Claude move beyond static answers by bringing in fresh, real-world content. It’s perfect for apps that need live news, current data, or real-time facts.
When this API is turned on, Claude uses its reasoning skills to check if the question needs a web search. If yes, it builds a query, searches the internet, reviews results, and gives back an answer—with clear citations.
Claude doesn’t stop at one search. It can run multiple queries, improve its questions, and use earlier answers to guide the next step. Developers can choose which websites Claude is allowed or not allowed to visit. They can also decide when to use search or block it entirely at the company level.
Pricing starts at $10 per 1,000 searches. The feature supports Claude 3.7 Sonnet, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, and Claude 3.5 Haiku.
This new ability is also coming to Claude Code, the AI tool built to help developers write and fix code. With the web search API, Claude Code can check the latest API docs, grab tutorials, and find real-time answers from trusted developer sites.
Claude Code is still in beta, but with web access, it becomes much more helpful. It can solve problems faster and cut down on wrong or outdated answers. Developers no longer have to leave their coding tool to check for updates—they can stay focused.
With the launch of the Anthropic web search API, the company is showing its push to make Claude a smarter and more flexible AI assistant. It now combines powerful thinking with real-world awareness—making it even more useful for businesses and developers.
