google-research

Google Research Skill

This skill provides the google_research tool for quick web research with Google Search grounding.

Available Tools

google_research

Quick web research with Google Gemini Flash and Google Search grounding.

Use for:

• Current events and news
• Fact verification
• Quick lookups
• Topic comparisons
• Technical documentation lookup

Parameters:

• query (required): Research question (10-2000 chars)
• focus_areas (optional): List of specific aspects to emphasize
• response_format: "markdown" (default) or "json"

Latency: ~5-15 seconds

Operational Guidance

• Query formulation: Write natural questions, not keyword strings. "What are the latest React 19 features?" works better than "React 19 features list."
• When to use focus_areas: Use when the topic is broad and you want to narrow the response. Provide 2-4 specific aspects (e.g., ["performance", "ecosystem", "learning curve"]).
• Result presentation: Summarize the key findings for the user. Include source URLs when citing specific claims. If the results are thin or inconclusive, say so rather than padding.

Examples

Basic Research

Use google_research with query: "What are the top AI developments in January 2025?"

Focused Research

Use google_research with:
  query: "Compare React vs Vue for enterprise applications"
  focus_areas: ["performance", "ecosystem", "learning curve"]

Fact Checking

Use google_research with query: "Is it true that [claim to verify]?"

Technical Lookup

Use google_research with query: "How to implement authentication in Next.js 15"

Response Format

Returns:

• Report: Research findings with inline citations
• Sources: List of URLs with titles
• Metadata: Model, execution time, source count

Security Features

Google's multi-layer defense:

• Prompt injection prevention: Content classifiers, security thought reinforcement
• Source quality filtering: Deprioritizes SEO-poisoned/spam sites
• Safety settings: BLOCK_LOW_AND_ABOVE threshold (most restrictive)

Not Suitable For:

• Information that doesn't require web search
• Code generation (use coding tools)
• Tasks requiring very long-form analysis

Configuration

Requires GEMINI_API_KEY environment variable. Get your key at: https://aistudio.google.com/apikey