How to Give Your AI Bot Web Search Powers for Free

Do you want your AI bot to browse the internet like a real person, searching for the latest news, weather, or stock prices?

By default, an AI model's knowledge might be locked to several months or even years ago. However, by configuring a "Search API", your bot can instantly connect to the live web and retrieve the most up-to-date information at any time!

We highly recommend using the Brave Search API for this purpose. Even though they recently updated their rules to require a credit card on file, they still generously offer $5 in free monthly credits (enough for about 1,000 search requests every month), which is plenty for typical everyday use. As long as you follow the fail-safe trick in this guide to set a "spending limit", there is absolutely no risk of being charged.

Follow this beginner-friendly tutorial. With just 5 easy steps, you can get your API key set up even if you know nothing about code!

---

Step 1: Visit the Brave Search API Website

1. Open your browser and navigate to the official Brave API website: https://brave.com/search/api/.
2. Click the sign-up button on the page.

Step 2: Register and Log In

1. On the registration page, enter your email address and create a password.
2. Agree to the terms and click to create your account.
3. Brave will send a verification link to your email. Check your inbox, click the link, and you will be logged into the Brave API dashboard.

Step 3: Simply Claim Your Free Credits

Brave provides $5 of automatic free credits to users every month. However, you must verify your account by adding a payment method (credit or debit card) first.

1. Once logged in, go to the left-hand menu and make sure you're on the "Search API" dashboard.
2. Follow the on-screen prompts to enter your payment details and subscribe to the API plan.
3. ⚠️ Zero-Charge Trick (Crucial Step): The moment you successfully add your card, go to the left menu and click Usage limits.
4. Force your Monthly spend limit to exactly $5.00. (Don't worry! Since the system gifts you $5 for free, setting the limit to $5 means "only allow the system to consume the free $5 you gave me". The service will pause once you hit $5, absolutely ensuring no real charges are made to your card.)
5. Click Save!

Step 4: Generate Your API Key

Now it's time to get your "magic internet key".

1. In the Brave API dashboard, look for the "API Keys" section.
2. Click the "Create API Key" or "Generate Key" button.
3. Give your key a recognizable name (e.g., MyOpenClawBot).
4. Once created, you will see a long string of letters and numbers. This is your API Key!
5. Click "Copy" next to the key to save it to your clipboard.

⚠️ Warning: Think of this API Key as a password. Do not share it publicly!

Step 5: Give the Key to Your OpenClaw Bot

This final step is the easiest. Just send the copied key to your OpenClaw bot directly in chat, asking it to configure the web search for you. For example: Here is my Brave API Key, please help me configure web search: + Your API Key

The bot will automatically configure it for you and return a message like this:

Gateway restart restart ok (gateway.restart)
Restart to apply Brave Search API key configuration
Run: openclaw doctor --non-interactive

If it says it failed—try again!

Test it out!

You're done! Now, open Telegram and go back to your bot's chat.

Try asking it a question about a recent event, for example:

• "Check today's Apple stock price for me."
• "Summarize the major news about AI in the last 24 hours."

You will see the bot instantly search the web, provide the latest information, and even include real website links in its answer.

Congratulations! Your personal AI assistant is now officially online and smarter than ever.

---

The Easiest Way to Deploy Your AI Agent

While you can plug your new Brave Search API key into various AI projects, the easiest way to manage your bots is through ClawSimple. With ClawSimple, you can:

• Easily deploy one or multiple AI agents on a single server, and configure web search automatically by just sending a message.
• Relaunch and manage your agents' settings at any time with just a few clicks.
• Bring your own model keys (BYOM) to maximize flexibility and save costs.

Get started with your ultimate personal AI team today!