Yahoo integrates generative AI into its search engine

Yahoo has announced the launch of a new AI-powered search tool called Yahoo Scout. The service is currently available in beta and operates on Claude, an AI model developed by Anthropic.

According to Yahoo, Scout “synthesizes” information from open internet sources along with the company’s own data and content to generate responses to natural language queries. The service interface will feature interactive multimedia elements, structured lists and tables, as well as visible links to sources, making it easier to verify the accuracy of the information.

Alongside the launch of Scout, Yahoo announced it is building a unified “intelligent platform” that will be integrated across various Yahoo products. These include AI summaries in Yahoo Mail, a “key takeaways” section in Yahoo News, and match and event analytics in Yahoo Sports. Scout will also be embedded in Yahoo Shopping to offer product recommendations and purchase links, and in Yahoo Finance to display company financials, analyst ratings, and real-time explanations of stock price changes. Over time, Yahoo says the Scout response engine will become more personalized and focused on deeper user engagement.

By comparison, Google began showcasing generative AI features in search back in 2023, with its AI Mode becoming widely available in the US last year. The company has also been actively integrating its AI models across its product ecosystem, including Gmail and online shopping services.