Anthropic has introduced a web search capability on its API for its AI models, including Claude 3.7 Sonnet, 3.5 Sonnet, and 3.5 Haiku. This new feature allows developers to augment Claude's extensive knowledge base with real-time information from the internet, enabling applications to access up-to-date data rather than relying solely on static training data. The API supports multi-step, progressive research by allowing Claude to perform multiple searches based on previous results, with user control over the number of searches. The service is priced at $10 per 1,000 searches. Additionally, developers can integrate this web search functionality with other tools, such as Anthropic's compound-beta agent, which supports web search and code execution for models like Llama 4 and Llama 3.3 70B without requiring setup. The launch positions Anthropic to compete in the evolving AI landscape where real-time data access is increasingly essential, potentially challenging traditional search engines like Google. The move also reflects a broader industry trend towards AI-driven data services, which may influence advertising strategies shifting from platforms like Facebook and Google to AI models such as ChatGPT and Claude.