Web Search API

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Cloudflare has made its Web Search API available in beta, allowing AI agents and applications to retrieve live Internet search results. At launch, customers can select Ceramic.ai, Exa or Linkup, with requests routed through AI Gateway and billed at each provider’s list API price.

Cloudflare announced on October 2 that its Web Search API is available in beta, giving AI agents and applications a way to request live Internet search results rather than rely only on a model’s training data. At launch, developers can choose Ceramic.ai, Exa or Linkup, with requests handled through Cloudflare’s AI Gateway.

The API is designed to return search results that can help applications ground responses in current information. Cloudflare says this can reduce reliance on guessed URLs or information limited by a model’s training cutoff. The announcement describes the service as a search interface for AI applications; it does not provide performance comparisons among the launch providers.

Cloudflare says all three launch providers support Zero Data Retention for requests made through Cloudflare and have committed to its verified bot crawling standards. These are provider commitments reported by Cloudflare; the announcement does not give further details about the standards, implementation, or how compliance will be assessed.

Search runs through AI Gateway, meaning requests appear in gateway logs and are charged against AI Gateway credits at the selected provider’s list API price, with no additional Cloudflare markup, according to the company. Developers can also supply their own provider API key. Cloudflare says the API can be called through its REST API or from a Worker using the AI binding.

Live Search for AI Applications

The beta gives developers using Cloudflare a way to add live search to applications that generate answers from changing online information. That may be useful for queries where a model’s stored knowledge can be out of date, such as current events or local listings. Search results can provide a basis for an answer, though the announcement does not claim that the API verifies the accuracy of information on the web.

Routing search through AI Gateway may also make it easier for teams to see requests alongside other gateway activity and manage charges through the same credit system. The stated pricing approach offers provider list prices without extra markup from Cloudflare, but developers still need to account for the selected provider’s fees. The beta’s value will depend on result quality, reliability, coverage and costs in actual use, none of which Cloudflare quantified in its announcement.

How the Beta Fits Cloudflare AI Gateway

Cloudflare’s announcement presents Web Search API as an addition to its AI Gateway offering, rather than as a standalone search engine for general browsing. Gateway routing is central to the launch: requests are logged there and billed through AI Gateway credits, while developers retain the option to bring their own provider credentials.

The initial provider choice is limited to three services: Ceramic.ai, Exa and Linkup. Cloudflare’s documentation provides examples for making a REST request and calling the service from a Worker. The examples show a query, a provider selection and a result limit, but they do not establish that the API is restricted to those example settings or describe all available controls.

““Web Search API is now available in beta.””

— Cloudflare

Beta Limits and Open Questions

Cloudflare has not published comparative search quality, speed, coverage or availability figures for Ceramic.ai, Exa and Linkup in the source announcement. It is also not clear how the service will perform under different query types, how often results will be refreshed, or whether the beta includes limits that may affect production use.

The announcement does not specify the full details of provider data handling beyond the stated Zero Data Retention support for requests made through Cloudflare. It also does not explain how the verified bot crawling standards are checked or enforced. Pricing is described as each provider’s list API price, but the source gives no example rates or expected costs for typical workloads.

Developers Can Test the Beta

Cloudflare directs developers to its Web Search API documentation to get started, with options to call the service through the REST API or a Worker’s AI binding. Teams evaluating the beta can select one of the three providers, route requests through AI Gateway, and decide whether to use Cloudflare-managed billing or bring a provider API key.

Cloudflare’s announcement does not give a date for general availability or describe a roadmap for additional providers and features. Further information about production readiness, provider comparisons, pricing examples and the handling of search results may emerge as the beta is used and updated.

Key Questions

What did Cloudflare announce?

Cloudflare announced that its Web Search API is available in beta. It lets AI agents and applications request live Internet search results.

Which search providers are available at launch?

The beta offers Ceramic.ai, Exa and Linkup. Cloudflare’s announcement does not compare their search performance.

How are API requests billed?

Requests run through AI Gateway and are billed to AI Gateway credits at the selected provider’s list API price, with no additional Cloudflare markup, according to the company. Developers can also bring their own provider API key.

Can developers use the API from a Cloudflare Worker?

Yes. Cloudflare says developers can call the API from a Worker using the AI binding, or send requests through the REST API.

Is the API generally available?

No. Cloudflare described the service as being in beta. The announcement did not provide a date for general availability.

Source: hn