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Overview

Glean provides the ability to use web search in world knowledge mode to access real-time web information alongside company data. This feature is available in Glean Assistant and Agents.

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Web Search in Assistant

When in world knowledge mode, Glean triggers web search or leverages LLM data based on the user query. Users will also see a “globe” button in the chat box which enables the user to use web search for every message. Thus, the user is able to determine when a web search should be used for their request.

  • What was Glean’s most recent funding round?
  • What is the latest AI news?
  • What are the 2025 trends for the financial services sector?
  • Provide an overview of the most recent earnings report.

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Web Search in Agents

Agent creators will be able to use web search action for an agent step. This will enable the creation of agents that can combine internal company knowledge with real-time web searches.

To enable web search, Admins need to set up one or more web search action as follows:

  1. Under Admin Console > Platform -> Actions select one of the following options to add an available web search action

    • Microsoft Bing actions

      1. Select an instance name e.g. Microsoft Bing Web Search.

      2. Select an authentication method. Customers have the option of using Glean’s Bing key or using their own Bing API key.If you already have your own Bing API key, and prefer to leverage that you can do so in Glean. We recommend that customers use the S1 pricing tier of Bing API.
        When customers use their own Bing key, they may turn on analytics for their Bing API key and can monitor web search usage on their own dashboard.

        Note: Bing Search APIs will be retired from Azure Marketplace on 11 August 2025. Any existing instances of Bing Search will be retired. After 11 August 2025, there will be no new customer signups and existing customers will stop being serviced. Prior to this deadline, we will help customers who are using Bing to migrate to another provider.

      3. Publish the action to be used with Glean Assistant and/or Agents.

      4. Save the action.

    • Google Gemini actions

      1. Select an instance name e.g. Google Gemini Web Search.
      2. Select a Gemini Search tool.
        1. Google consumer search: Uses public web results. Select this option if your application needs more up-to-date results for fast-changing topics. Learn more
        2. Google enterprise search: designed for regulated industries. It provides zero data retention, privacy and compliance-focused results. Learn more
      3. Publish the action to be used in Glean Assistant and/or Agents.
      4. Save the action.

    • OpenAI actions

      1. Select an instance name e.g. OpenAI Web Search.
      2. Configure the Organization ID and OpenAI API Key that should be used with this action.
      3. Publish the action to be used in chat and/or agents.
      4. Save the action.

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FAQ

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