Web search in chat (Brave / Serper) & getting API keys

With web search enabled, the AI can draw on current information from the web in chat, instead of relying only on your knowledge base and the model’s own knowledge. The feature is optional and disabled by default; it requires an API key from a supported search provider.

Enabling it

Web search is toggled under Administration → System settings → Web search. → System settings

1. Open the Web search area and enable the feature.
2. Choose a provider: Brave or Serper (Google results).
3. Enter the API key for the chosen provider (see below).
4. Verify with Test connection, then save.

Optionally you can set the result count (how many search hits are considered) and fetch limits (how many pages are loaded for reading) — low values save quota and time, higher values provide more context.

Choosing a provider: Brave or Serper

• Brave Search API — its own search index, privacy-friendly, with German localization (recall set to de).
• Serper — delivers Google search results via an API.

Both are equally usable; what matters is which key you have and your preference regarding index/localization.

Note on German-language search: Brave is localized to de. The localization of Serper results may differ — check the result quality for your language.

Getting the API keys

As of writing: providers change portals, plan names and prices. The steps below are intentionally generic; reconcile them with the current provider portal if needed.

Brave Search API

1. Open the developer portal: https://api-dashboard.search.brave.com/.
2. Register and choose a plan (a free entry tier exists).
3. Generate a subscription token.
4. Enter this token in CompanyWizard in the Brave API Key field (it is used in the request as X-Subscription-Token).

Serper (Google)

1. Open the portal: https://serper.dev/.
2. Register — there is a free starting credit.
3. Copy the API key from the dashboard.
4. Enter this key in CompanyWizard in the Serper API Key field (it is used in the request as X-API-Key).

Security

API keys are stored encrypted (AES-256-GCM) and never shown in cleartext — like all keys in CompanyWizard. → Where do I get an LLM API key?

Limits & notes

• Admin-only: only Administration enables web search and enters keys.
• Optional & off: without enabling it and a valid key, web search stays unused in chat.
• No provider markup: you pay the search provider directly per its plan; CompanyWizard adds nothing.

Related

• System settings / feature toggles
• Where do I get an LLM API key? · Environment variables & appsettings