Key Highlights
- Yahoo has launched Scout, a new AI-powered answer engine, in beta.
- Scout is available via a standalone site, app, and the Yahoo Search app.
- The tool uses Anthropic’s Claude, Yahoo data, and Microsoft Bing grounding.
- Yahoo aims to deliver instant answers while still sending traffic to publishers.
Yahoo is back in the search conversation. The company has launched Scout, a new AI-powered answer engine designed to deliver conversational responses instead of traditional blue links. The move signals Yahoo’s attempt to re-enter the fast-changing search market as users increasingly turn to AI tools for direct answers.
Scout is now available in beta on desktop and mobile in the U.S., accessible through a standalone experience and within the Yahoo Search app on iOS and Android. The launch matters because it places Yahoo directly in competition with AI-first search platforms at a time when search behavior is rapidly shifting.
What is Yahoo Scout and how does it work?
Yahoo Scout is an AI answer engine that provides clear, summarized responses to user queries. Instead of showing only links, Scout presents structured answers using tables, images, emojis, and inline citations. The design prioritizes scannability and transparency, making it easier for users to understand where information comes from.
Behind the scenes, Scout runs primarily on Anthropic’s Claude AI model. It also uses Yahoo’s proprietary data and content, combined with Microsoft Bing’s grounding API to pull verified sources from the open web.
Why is Yahoo launching an AI answer engine now?
Search is changing. Users increasingly expect answers, not links. Yahoo believes this shift creates a new opening for the brand, which has nearly three decades of search and user data.
According to Yahoo leadership, Scout is positioned as a modern extension of Yahoo’s original mission: helping users navigate the internet efficiently. The company sees AI as a way to reassert relevance rather than replace its existing ecosystem.
Where will Scout appear inside Yahoo’s products?
Scout will not remain limited to search. Yahoo is also rolling out the Scout Intelligence Platform, which brings generative AI features across Yahoo Mail, News, Finance, and Sports.
Planned features include email summaries, sports game breakdowns, and stock analysis. This integration strategy allows Yahoo to embed AI answers directly into everyday user workflows.
How does Yahoo handle publishers and sources?
Unlike some AI tools, every Scout response includes inline citations and source links. Yahoo says this approach is meant to maintain traffic flow to publishers and support the open web.
The company is also participating in Microsoft’s Publisher Content Marketplace pilot, which aims to create sustainable revenue models for content creators.
