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Web Search

Use Web Search when the agent needs the latest public information. Do not use it as a substitute for your own stable knowledge.

For the Consultation Desk example, Web Search is not the default path. It is the fallback when a user explicitly needs current public guidance and the answer should come from trusted external sources.

Expanded Web Search settings with domain restrictions and a clear invocation rule

When Web Search Is the Right Tool

Use it when:

  • The user asks for the latest public information
  • The answer depends on something that may have changed recently
  • The information lives outside your workspace and should not be copied into your own knowledge base

Do not use it when:

  • The answer should come from your own SOPs, policies, or service definitions
  • You need consistent internal wording
  • The information should be reviewed and maintained by your team

In Editor, open Tools, click Add Tool, and choose Web Search.

Step 2: Restrict Domains When You Can

If the agent should rely on a known set of sources, enter them in Domain(s).

For the Consultation Desk example, the operator limited search to trusted public sources instead of letting the agent search the whole web.

That gives you:

  • Cleaner retrieval
  • More predictable answers
  • Easier debugging when something goes wrong

Leave domains empty only when broad search is genuinely necessary.

Step 3: Write a Strict When to Use

Your instruction should make Web Search a deliberate choice, not a reflex.

Example:

Only use Web Search when the user explicitly asks for the latest public guidance, and prefer official or medically reviewed sources before answering.

This does two jobs:

  • It tells the agent when to search
  • It tells the agent what kind of sources to prefer

Step 4: Test with a Real Current-Info Prompt

Use prompts that clearly require fresh information.

Examples:

  • Can you check the latest public guidance on this issue?
  • Has the official recommendation changed recently?

Then verify:

  • The tool was actually called
  • The answer reflects the intended source quality
  • The agent did not use Web Search for a question your own knowledge base should have handled

Operator Tips

  • Prefer official, primary, or highly trusted domains.
  • Mention sources in the answer when the user would benefit from verification.
  • Keep the trigger narrow so the agent does not search for routine questions.
  • If the answer should remain stable for most conversations, move it into Knowledge Base instead of searching for it every time.

Common Mistakes

Letting Web Search replace internal knowledge

This usually makes answers slower and less consistent.

Using broad search for high-stakes answers

If the answer matters, constrain the domains.

Writing a vague trigger

Use web search when helpful is too loose. The agent needs a real decision rule.

Next Steps