Understanding Gemini Web Search: What You Need to Know

As we delve into the evolving capabilities of AI tools, a frequent question arises: How effectively does Gemini Web Search engage with online content? As of April 18, 2025, I’ve been examining this aspect closely while using Gemini (2.5 Pro) to cross-check citations in various documents, and I’ve stumbled upon an important distinction that users should be aware of.

Unlike some AI platforms, including Claude, Gemini lacks advanced capabilities like “Fetch” and “Puppeteer” that allow for comprehensive web browsing. Instead, its web search functionality is primarily designed to retrieve “web snippets” from Google’s cache, rather than executing real-time searches across the internet.

There are two main search options available with Gemini. The first is a URL search, which provides a summary of a web page as generated by Google’s algorithms. The second is a keyword search, which can be combined with a specific URL. However, this combination often yields limited results, especially if the keywords are too narrow, occasionally returning no content at all from the page.

It’s critical for users to grasp that when querying Gemini for page information, it often refers to “snippets.” However, unless users specifically probe deeper, Gemini may not disclose that it hasn’t fully reviewed the entire page. Instead, it may draw conclusions based on the brief summaries provided. This can lead to misconceptions about the depth of information available.

To navigate this limitation effectively, users should employ clever and varied keyword searches targeting specific URLs. While initial queries might not capture the full scope of a web page’s content, a more thorough investigation can yield a richer understanding.

Yesterday, I shared a methodology highlighting these points. With this post, I aim to raise awareness about the fundamental difference between Gemini’s “Web Search” feature and AI agents that strive to explore the web on our behalf. Understanding these nuances is crucial as we continue to adapt to the swiftly changing landscape of AI technology.