How AI answers use your question

4Search has two AI features: the AI Overview, a short summary above search results, and AI Mode, a conversation. Both are optional and off until you allow them, because using them means your question leaves 4Search and goes to an AI provider.

For how the features work, see AI Overview and AI Mode. The legal text is the AI Transparency Notice.

#You decide first

AI-assisted answers are off by default. Until you allow them, the AI Overview box says that AI-assisted answers are disabled unless you authorize sending your query and selected result context to the AI provider, and offers Allow AI Answers and Manage privacy choices. In AI Mode, when you send a message, the notice reads Turn on AI answers to chat, with Allow AI answers.

You allow them with the AI-assisted answers switch in the privacy panel, or with those buttons. See Your privacy choices. Turning the switch off stops further questions from being sent after the choice takes effect.

#What is sent

When AI answers are on, according to the AI Transparency Notice:

• For an AI Overview: the search query, the current date, and a limited selection of result titles, sources, dates, hostnames or snippets.
• For AI Mode: each message you send, together with the earlier messages of that conversation and any topic you chose. With each message, the site also searches its own news index and sends the provider the best-matching articles: headline, publisher, date and a short excerpt. The answer cites them as numbered sources linked to the original articles.

Your messages travel in the body of the request, not in its web address. The provider named in the notice processes the request, under its own terms.

#What is kept

• AI Mode chats stay in your browser session. They are discarded when you start a new chat or close the tab. A chat is limited to a set number of messages, and the counter beside the message box shows how many you have used.
• AI Mode answers are not cached. The site may keep an operational log of each message, with the text you sent, the site, the topic, token usage and cost, so the feature can be measured and abuse investigated.
• AI Overview answers are not cached by default. If an operator turns on caching, the site stores the question text and the answer.

The provider's own handling is described in its terms. The notice suggests reading them before you turn AI answers on.

#What to remember about the answers

AI answers are produced by an automated model and are not reviewed by a person before you see them. They can be wrong, incomplete or out of date, and citations can be incorrect. An AI answer is not medical, legal, financial, tax, investment, safety or other professional advice. Check anything that matters against the sources.

To report a problem with an answer, use the Contact page and include the question you asked, the date and a description of what you saw. The form cannot take attachments.

#If your browser looks automated

If the site thinks your browser is automated software, AI features stay unavailable until you complete a short press-and-hold check. See The "Please confirm you are human" check.

#Common questions

Does 4Search store what I ask the AI?

AI Mode chats live in your browser session. The site may keep an operational log of each message you send in AI Mode. AI Overview answers are not cached by default. The AI Transparency Notice has the exact wording.

Who sees my question?

If you allow AI answers, the AI provider named in the AI Transparency Notice receives it, along with the context described above. If you do not, nothing is sent.

Can I use 4Search without AI?

Yes. The normal search results are always there. AI-assisted answers are an extra you turn on.

How do I turn AI off again?

Open the privacy panel, switch AI-assisted answers off and select Save choices.