Parallel Search

Agents can search the public web and pull the text of source pages through Parallel Search. It needs no account, so it is a quick way to give an agent up-to-date information from outside your company.

Note: Parallel Search appears in the catalog on every instance; no experimental setting is needed.

Before you connect

Nothing. This connection uses Parallel's public search server, so there is no sign-in and no API key.

  1. Open Connectors and select Parallel Search.
  2. Read the access line above the main button. It says who the connection belongs to and which agents can use it. Select Change to narrow the agents.
  3. Select Connect.

Choose access

The public server offers two read-only actions: web_search and web_fetch. That is the whole connection. Parallel's separate Task product is a different server and is not included.

Because it only reads the public web, this is one of the lower-stakes connectors to share. Keep two things in mind:

  • What Parallel sees. Your agents' search terms go to Parallel. Keep private details out of queries.
  • What agents do with results. Search results are outside content. Ask agents to keep source links and excerpts with what they report, and to treat results as information to check rather than instructions to follow. See Set action permissions.

Try it

Search the web with Parallel Search for the latest pricing page of a tool we use, and summarise it with the source link.

Open the link and compare. A result you can check confirms both the connection and the agent's permission.

Note: Illustrative task, not a recorded test result.

Troubleshooting and limitations

Problem Likely cause Fix
Searches start failing after heavy use Parallel may limit heavy use of the public server Slow down, or use another search connector
An agent looks for Parallel's task or research tools Those belong to Parallel Task, a separate product Use the search and fetch actions only
A page cannot be read The site blocks automated reading, or needs a login Try another source
An agent reports a claim without a link It did not keep the source Ask it to include the URL with each fact

Limitations: public web only, and only the two actions the public server exposes.

Sources