Alibaba’s ‘ZeroSearch’ lets AI learn to google itself — slashing training costs by 88 percent

Alibaba researchers developed ZeroSearch to train large language models (LLMs) to search for information without using real search engines, reducing costs by up to 88%. ZeroSearch outperformed Google in experiments, demonstrating the potential for AI systems to simulate search and reduce reliance on external tools. This breakthrough could level the playing field for AI development by making advanced training more accessible to companies with limited budgets.