Brave, the privacy-centric browser, has introduced “Answer with AI,” a feature that leverages artificial intelligence to provide users with summaries alongside traditional search results.
Unlike many search engines that rely on results from third parties like Google or Bing, Brave’s “Answer with AI” operates entirely on its own. This means Brave utilizes its own search index, a massive collection of websites built independently, to generate AI-powered summaries.
This independence allows Brave to prioritize user privacy, as search queries and user data are not shared with external search engine providers.
How does Brave’s Search with AI work?
“Answer with AI” functions by analyzing user queries and scouring Brave’s search index for relevant information. The AI then synthesizes this information, creating a concise summary displayed at the top of the search results page.
This summary provides users with a quick overview of the topic without needing to delve into individual search results. Importantly, “Answer with AI” cites its sources, allowing users to explore the original content if they desire more details.
Building on existing tools
This isn’t Brave’s first experiment with AI-powered search experiences. In March 2023, the company launched an “AI Summarizer” tool.
“Answer with AI” builds upon this foundation, offering a more comprehensive and informative summary generation process.
Brave highlights that the new feature is trained to process information from multiple web sources, providing users with a more well-rounded understanding of the topic at hand.
How to try Brave Search’s Answer with AI feature
If you haven’t already, you’ll need Brave Search as your search engine. You can download the Brave browser for free and make Brave Search your default option during setup.
If Brave Search is already your captain, you’re good to go! Simply type your query in the address bar of your browser.
Brave Search offers “Answer with AI” for free to all users, and they aim to keep it that way. They see this as a natural evolution of search engines. However, they might explore a paid option in the future.
This premium experience could involve open-ended chats, possibly linked to premium features offered by Brave Leo, the AI assistant within the Brave browser.
AI is changing the way we “surf”
The introduction of “Answer with AI” positions Brave as a competitor in the growing market of AI-powered search. While the long-term implications remain to be seen, this development suggests a future where search engines leverage AI to not only deliver results but also to synthesize and present information in a user-friendly manner.
It will be interesting to see how Brave refines “Answer with AI” and how other search engines with AI-powered browsers respond with their own innovations.
Featured image credit: Brave
