Claude can now search the web: Is Anthropic’s AI a threat to Google’s search dominance?

Anthropic just gave its AI chatbot, Claude, a serious upgrade—real-time web search. This means Claude can now pull fresh information straight from the internet and provide responses with direct citations. The web search feature is rolling out first to paid users in the U.S. before expanding to free users and more regions.

“Claude can now search the web. Each response includes inline citations, so you can also verify the sources,” Anthropic said in a post on X.

Claude can now search the web.

Each response includes inline citations, so you can also verify the sources. pic.twitter.com/iFshgfUEp8

— Anthropic (@AnthropicAI) March 20, 2025

Claude Integrates Web Search Engine Capabilities

A Long-Awaited Feature

Claude users have been waiting for this update. Competitors like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini already offer similar capabilities, and there were hints that Anthropic had been testing this behind the scenes. Back in February, posts on X suggested that the Claude iOS app was gearing up for web search and reasoning features. Now, it’s official.

At 13:07 EDT, @theresanaiforit posted, “Claude can now search the web!” highlighting its real-time data access and citation-backed responses. Minutes earlier, @koltregaskes shared, “Oh wow, Claude gets web search access! USA only for now, needs toggling on on the feature preview screen,” linking to Anthropic’s blog for confirmation.

For now, it’s a preview feature for paid U.S. users, with plans to roll it out more widely in the near future.

Claude web search

How It Works and Why It Matters

According to Anthropic’s blog, Claude doesn’t just pull search results—it processes them into a readable response, complete with source citations. The AI pulls information from reputable outlets like NPR and Reuters, as well as social media platforms like X.

Anthropic says the goal is to make research easier by presenting relevant sources in a conversational way. VentureBeat reported that Anthropic has spent months refining Claude’s ability to analyze and present web data in a useful format.

This update could be particularly useful for businesses. Sales teams tracking industry trends, financial analysts monitoring markets, and journalists verifying information all stand to benefit. “For financial services firms, combining historical training data with breaking news creates a powerful analysis tool,” VentureBeat noted.

Mixed Reactions and Early Feedback

The response has been largely positive. Some users on X shared excitement about Claude’s improved functionality, especially its ability to cite sources. Investing.com pointed out that this tackles one of the biggest issues with AI-generated content—transparency. “Users can fact-check sources easily,” the site reported.

That said, early testers noticed that web search isn’t always consistent. Yahoo Finance found that it doesn’t always trigger breaking news, suggesting there’s still room for improvement. Anthropic has acknowledged this, framing the feature as a preview with ongoing refinements.

A Bigger Battle in AI Search

This update comes at a time when AI companies are racing to stay ahead. Just three weeks ago, Anthropic secured $3.5 billion in funding, valuing the company at $61.5 billion. Backers like Google and Amazon are betting big on its future, and Claude’s integration with Amazon’s Alexa+ and AWS Bedrock signals a broader push into both consumer and enterprise markets.

The timing of this release isn’t random. Anthropic is rolling out web search just as xAI’s Grok 3 makes waves, reinforcing that real-time capabilities are now expected in AI chatbots.

But this isn’t just about keeping up with competitors—it’s about challenging Google’s dominance in search. If AI chatbots like Claude continue to improve at retrieving and synthesizing web content, traditional search engines could lose some of their grip.

What’s Next?

This is just the start. The Financial Times recently reported that Anthropic is working on voice capabilities for Claude, hinting at a shift toward more interactive AI experiences. VentureBeat speculated, “Web search may be just the beginning of Anthropic’s feature expansion.”

Claude’s evolution has been a slow burn compared to some rivals, but users seem to think it’s worth the wait. As one X user put it: “Finally.”

With web search now part of Claude’s toolkit, the AI assistant space is getting even more competitive. The question is—how long before these tools start eating into Google’s market share?