How to enable internet search and URL reading for the AI Assistant?

By default, the AI Assistant answers from ConnectiveOne documentation and your platform data. You can optionally allow it to search the public internet and read public web pages by URL — for example, current news, third-party API docs, or open pages on your website.

Both options are off by default and are enabled separately.

When you need this

  • Answers must come from current sources outside ConnectiveOne docs.
  • The team needs the assistant to read a specific public page (e.g. a partner API reference).
  • You want to collect reference data from a public website (catalog, FAQ) — within the limits below.

Good to know

  • Access requires two layers: an instance toggle and a separate role permission.
  • The model provider API key must be configured for the model users pick in chat (Google Gemini, OpenAI, or Anthropic) — Instance settings → Instance Agent.
  • The assistant cannot bypass login, CAPTCHA, or closed site areas.
  • Internal platform URLs and unsafe addresses are blocked to protect service endpoints.
  • Fetch URL does not return HTML source — only text content generated by the model from the public page; verify critical tables and wording at the original URL.
  • Large sites (many pages) are handled in batches — several chat messages may be needed.

Before you start

  • Instance Agent Integration is enabled.
  • You are root (instance settings) or an administrator who can edit roles.
  • API keys are set for the models you plan to use in chat.

Step by step

1. Enable features on the instance (root)

  1. Go to Menu → Settings → Instance settings.
  2. Expand Instance Agent.
  3. Optionally enable:
    • Instance Agent: Web Search — web search on the public internet;
    • Instance Agent: Fetch URL — read one public page by URL.
  4. Confirm the required API key fields for chat models — as needed:
    • Instance Agent: Google (Gemini) API Key;
    • Instance Agent: OpenAI API Key;
    • Instance Agent: Anthropic API Key.

2. Grant role permissions

  1. Go to Menu → Settings → Users → Roles.
  2. Open a role for editing.
  3. In AI Assistant (Instance Agent), under additional permissions, enable as needed:
    • Allow the agent to search the public internet (web search);
    • Allow the agent to fetch and read public web pages by URL.
  4. Save the role.

Permissions are independent: you can allow search only, URL reading only, or both.

3. Verify in chat

  1. Sign in as a user with the test role.
  2. Open the AI Assistant and send, for example:
    • “What’s in the news about … today?” — to test web search;
    • “Read https://example.com/docs/… and summarize briefly” — to test URL fetch.
  3. If Agent Debug Mode is on, tool steps show Web search or Fetch URL with a short description.

Limits and security

SituationBehavior
Feature off on instance or roleAssistant explains web access is unavailable; answers from platform docs
Page requires loginContent cannot be read — assistant suggests alternatives (export, public PDF, sitemap)
“Scrape the whole large site at once”Assistant proposes a plan: sitemap or section first, then batches
Agent Read-Only ModeSearch and URL fetch allowed; automatic data writes only with edit permission

After you finish

  • Users with the right permissions can use public internet sources in answers.
  • API usage costs depend on the model provider — consider this for heavy use.