Yahoo has launched a new AI-powered answer engine called Yahoo Scout, now available in beta. The tool is powered by Anthropic’s Claude model and aims to provide synthesized answers to natural language search queries. Scout pulls information from the web as well as Yahoo’s own extensive data and content libraries. The company emphasizes that responses will include interactive digital media, structured lists, tables, and visible source links to allow users to easily verify the information provided. The launch is part of a broader rollout of what Yahoo calls an intelligence platform across its suite of products. This initiative will bring AI features to various Yahoo services. For example, Yahoo Mail will get AI-generated summaries, Yahoo News will feature key takeaways from articles, and Yahoo Sports will offer AI-powered game breakdowns. Scout will also integrate into Yahoo Shopping to provide product insights and shoppable links. Within Yahoo Finance, the AI will be able to populate company financials, analyst ratings, and explain stock movements in real time. Yahoo has stated that the Scout answer engine will evolve to become more personalized and offer deeper, more contextual experiences over time. This move places Yahoo alongside other tech giants integrating generative AI directly into search and core products. Google began testing generative AI in search in 2023 and made its AI Mode for search widely available in the US last year. Google has also been actively embedding its AI model across its portfolio, including in Gmail for enhanced search and in shopping for features like AI-assisted checkout. The introduction of Yahoo Scout represents a significant step in the ongoing transformation of search from a list of links to a conversational, answer-oriented experience. By leveraging Anthropic’s Claude and its own data, Yahoo is positioning itself to compete in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI-enhanced information retrieval and user assistance.
