Web Browser
The Web Browser tool lets your AI Agent perform real‑time, grounded web research and return structured, high‑signal results you can summarize, cite, or reason over. This updated version adds richer filtering, optional direct answer synthesis, and media support.
What It Can Do Now
- Domain inclusion / exclusion
- Date range & regional (country) biasing
- Optional direct answer draft
- Optional representative images
Key Configuration Fields
Configure these when adding or editing the tool. Leave fields blank you don't need—defaults are safe.
| Field | Required | Purpose | Typical Values | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Yes | Internal label for the tool. | "News Searcher" | Create variants per workflow. |
| How the agent should use this tool? | Yes | Helps the AI know when to call it. | "Use for fresh regulatory updates" | Mention freshness / scope. |
| Input Name | Yes | Parameter name for the user query. | query | Keep small and define what ai agent should send to web browser. It should understand the input parameter. |
| Input Description | Yes | Guidance on expected input. | "Natural language question about recent EV policy" | Improves tool selection. |
| Max Results | No | Max distinct sources (URLs). | 6–12 | Raise only if breadth lacking. |
| Include Domains | No | Whitelist only these domains. | ["reuters.com"] | Trusted-source searches. |
| Exclude Domains | No | Block noisy domains. | ["reddit.com"] | Remove UGC / low-signal. |
| Include Images | No | Return image URLs if available. | true/false | Briefings, slides, trend scans. |
| Include Answer | No | Attempt concise synthesized draft answer. | true/false | Quick executive summaries. |
| Start Date | No | Lower bound (YYYY-MM-DD). | 2025-09-01 | Time ‑boxed news. |
| End Date | No | Upper bound (YYYY-MM-DD). | 2025-10-01 | Event windows. |
| Country | No | Region bias (2‑letter code). | US, DE | Local angle/coverage. |
How Retrieval Works (Simplified)
- Web results fetched & ranked for relevance.
- Content normalized & chunked (HTML noise removed).
- Results truncated to Max Results.
- (Optional) Direct answer draft created using only returned chunks.
Quick Setup Steps
- Open your AI Agent → Tools.
- Add "Web Browser" → Configure.
- Fill: Name, Description, Input Name, Input Description.
- (Optional) Add filters (domains, dates) & advanced flags.
- Save & test with a sample query.
Example Config Profiles
A. Fast Headline Scan
- Description: "Latest weekly AI policy changes"
- Max Results: 6
- Start Date: (2025-09-15)
- Include Answer: true
B. Deep Market Insight
- Description: "In-depth competitive landscape for electric vehicles"
- Max Results: 10
- Include Answer: false (prefer manual synthesis)
C. Trusted Finance Digest
- Description: "Top financial news sources"
- Include Domains:
["ft.com", "reuters.com", "bloomberg.com"] - Max Results: 6
- Include Answer: true
D. Visual Trend Brief
- Description: "Recent tech trends with images"
- Include Images: true
- Max Results: 5
Choosing Parameters
| Goal | Suggested Adjustments |
|---|---|
| Higher factual precision | Disable Include Answer; tighten Include Domains |
| Time-sensitive | Add Start Date (recent window) |
Using Direct Answer Mode
Enable Include Answer for a concise draft summary. Always verify claims against provided source snippets—especially for legal, financial, medical, or compliance-sensitive use cases. If strict grounding is required, disable it and rely on raw chunks when composing the final message.
Date & Region Filters
- Use Start Date + End Date for event windows (e.g., product launch week).
- Setting only Start Date scopes to "from X until now".
- Country bias steers selection toward regional sources; leave empty for neutral global mix.
Interpreting Results
Returned data typically includes:
- Sources list (URLs + titles)
- Extracted text chunks (cleaned)
- (Optional) Images list
- (Optional) Draft answer section
Example User Prompts
- "Summarize key developments in European AI regulation from the past week."
- "Provide reputable sources on lithium ion battery recycling cost trends and include notable cost figures."
- "Collect recent authoritative commentary on open banking API security for a briefing deck (need image if available)."
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Empty / few results | Filters too restrictive | Remove date or domains |
| Redundant info | Max Results too high | Lower to 6–8 |
FAQ
Are images guaranteed when enabled? No. Only returned if relevant images are discoverable.
Why am I getting older articles? Add a Start Date or tighten Topic / Include Domains.
Iterate lightly: test → inspect sources → adjust one parameter at a time for measurable relevance gains.