| name | web-search |
| description | Real-time internet search for weather events, regulatory notices, carrier news, and insurance industry updates |
| enabled | true |
Web Search Skill
Instructions
When the user asks about current events, external information, or anything that requires up-to-date data beyond your training cutoff, use the web_search tool.
How It Works
The web search tool uses the Microsoft Foundry Responses API with web_search_preview, powered by Bing Grounding. It returns real-time web results with URL citations so responses are grounded in verifiable sources.
When to Use
- Weather and catastrophe events: Active storms, hurricanes, wildfires, flooding — check severity, path, and affected regions
- Regulatory notices: State insurance department bulletins, NAIC updates, new compliance requirements
- Carrier news: Insurer financial strength ratings (AM Best, S&P), mergers, market exits, rate filings
- Fraud alerts: Insurance fraud trends, schemes, and law enforcement actions
- Legislative changes: New insurance laws, coverage mandates, consumer protection updates
- Market conditions: Reinsurance market trends, catastrophe loss reports, industry benchmarks
Response Guidelines
- Always include source URLs from the citations returned by the tool
- Caveat any time-sensitive data with "as of [date]" — weather and regulatory situations change rapidly
- Distinguish between confirmed facts and forecasts/projections
- If the search returns no relevant results, let the user know and suggest refining the query
- Do not fabricate URLs — only use citations returned by the tool
- Clearly label external information as such, separate from internal policy guidance (which comes from
rag_search)
Error Handling
If web search returns an error or no results:
- Report the issue transparently to the user
- Suggest alternative search terms or a narrower query
- Do not fall back to generating an answer from memory
- If the search returns no relevant results, let the user know and suggest refining the query
- Do not fabricate URLs — only use citations returned by the tool
- Remind clients that web search results are informational and not investment advice
