Web search: the AI looks things up
By default the Coach uses only what it learned during training — no browsing. But your writing may need fresh facts ("does the job of lighthouse keeper still exist in 2024?"). For that, enable Web search.
How to turn it on
The chat input has a "🌐 Web" toggle in the top-right:
- Off (default): the AI doesn't browse
- On: the AI looks things up when needed and replies with citations
You can also default it to "always on" in chat settings (not recommended — costs more credits).
How it works
With Web on:
- You ask (e.g. "Does the job of lighthouse keeper still exist?")
- The AI decides whether a search is needed
- If so → searches → reads the top results
- Replies with a source list:
- Source URL
- Quoted snippet
- You can click through
When this helps
Realist fiction, non-fiction, biography, technical writing often use it:
- Fact-check: "1924 Scottish lighthouse keeper daily routine"
- References: "modern lighthouse engineer's toolkit"
- Phrasing: "colloquial Scottish phrases from the 1920s"
- Historical locations: "exact location of the Pentland Firth lighthouse"
When this doesn't help
- Don't use it as a search engine — Google directly is faster
- Don't treat it as authoritative — the AI summarises and can misread; for important facts, click through and verify
- Don't use for real-time data (stock prices, weather) — what the AI sees is a snapshot
Transparent sources
Whenever the AI used Web search, the message header shows "🌐 searched N times" — click to see queries + result list.
You can see what sources the AI cited, avoiding picking up rumours / misinformation.
Cost
Web search costs a bit more credit (search + fetch tokens) — that's why it's off by default. Enable when needed.
See: AI cost & quota
Privacy
Web search sends only the search queries the AI judged necessary — not your book content.
See: Privacy Policy
Related
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