Brave Unveils ‘Ask Brave’: A New AI-Powered Search That Puts Privacy First
The landscape of online search is undergoing a radical transformation, and the latest contender to enter the AI-powered arena is Brave Search with its new feature, “Ask Brave.” This integrated AI companion aims to provide users with direct, summarized answers to their queries, positioning itself as a powerful and privacy-respecting alternative to offerings from Google and Microsoft.
Unlike a standalone chatbot, Ask Brave functions as a “search companion” built directly into the Brave Search engine. It leverages multiple large language models (LLMs) to synthesize information from across the web, delivering concise and relevant answers right at the top of the search results page.
How ‘Ask Brave’ Redefines AI-Powered Search
While other search engines are also integrating generative AI, Brave is differentiating its approach by focusing on three core principles: independence, privacy, and transparency.
1. Built on an Independent Search Index
Perhaps the most significant advantage of Brave Search is its foundation. The answers generated by Ask Brave are built on its own independent search index. Many alternative search engines simply license their results from Google or Bing. By using its own index, Brave ensures that the AI’s responses are not influenced by the biases or ranking algorithms of Big Tech. This independence is crucial for providing truly impartial and comprehensive information.
2. An Unwavering Commitment to User Privacy
Privacy is the cornerstone of the Brave ecosystem, and Ask Brave is no exception. All queries submitted to the AI are anonymized, and the system does not create user profiles or share personal data with the LLMs. Your search history remains private and is never used to train the AI models. This stands in stark contrast to other platforms where user data is often a key component of the business model. With Ask Brave, your curiosity remains your own.
3. Transparent and Verifiable Answers
Trust is paramount when dealing with AI-generated content. To address this, Ask Brave transparently cites its sources for every answer it provides. Each summary includes clear, clickable links to the web pages from which the information was derived. This allows users to easily verify the facts, dig deeper into topics of interest, and assess the credibility of the sources for themselves.
How to Use Ask Brave
Getting started with this new AI feature is simple and designed to be user-controlled. It is available for free to all Brave Search users on both desktop and mobile.
When you perform a search on Brave, you will see an “Ask Brave” button alongside your query. Clicking this will generate an AI-powered summary. For queries that are best suited for a direct answer, such as a question, the feature may generate a response automatically at the top of the results. This opt-in approach ensures that users remain in full control of their search experience.
The Future of Search is Private and Intelligent
The integration of generative AI into search engines marks a pivotal moment for how we access information online. While the convenience of instant answers is compelling, it should not come at the cost of user privacy or algorithmic transparency.
By combining the power of LLMs with its independent search index and a strict, privacy-first policy, Brave is making a bold statement: a smarter, more helpful search experience does not require sacrificing your personal data. As users become more aware of how their information is used online, solutions like Ask Brave offer a responsible path forward in the age of artificial intelligence.
Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/artificial-intelligence/brave-launches-ask-brave-feature-to-fuse-ai-with-traditional-search/
