Cloudflare has announced a new collaboration with Microsoft to reshape website search in the era of the Agentic web. The move addresses how both people and AI agents now interact with online content.

Publishers and content creators have long depended on keyword-based search to guide visitors. However, traditional search is outdated. Users must type keywords, browse links, and assemble the answers themselves.

AI has reset these expectations. Today, visitors want direct answers, similar to how they interact with systems like ChatGPT, Copilot, or Claude. Search is shifting from engines to answer engines.

A new type of visitor has also emerged: AI agents. These agents face the same limits with keyword queries but require structured access for accurate results. Website owners now need a way to serve both human users and AI agents.

Cloudflare reported that its collaboration with Microsoft integrates the NLWeb open standard with its AutoRAG infrastructure. This enables conversational search and ensures websites remain relevant in the Agentic web.

Key capabilities include:
• Conversational search for visitors using natural language
• Structured and reliable access for AI agents
• Automatic indexing and continuous updates with AutoRAG

The companies revealed that websites can now offer direct answers instead of only returning links. With this model, any site can function more like an AI-powered app.

Experts noted that as AI agents become a major traffic source, website owners must adapt their SEO strategies for the Agentic web.

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