web_search_fast tool just released on claude.ai?

A new tool, "web_search_fast," has reportedly been released on claude.ai without an official announcement. This tool is a lightweight, quicker, and likely cheaper variant of the existing "web_search" function. It is designed for straightforward lookups, returning up to 10 results with a title, URL, and short excerpt. The tool is part of a two-tier design, where it is used first, escalating to the more comprehensive "web_search" if initial results are insufficient or for complex research needs.

This report is the first to identify and detail the unannounced "web_search_fast" tool on claude.ai, unlike other sources that have not yet reported on its silent release.