I am using the gpt-4o-mini model for my project. I encountered an impossibility to use the tools=[{“type”: “web_search”}] parameter. If I understood correctly, this parameter requires additional permission from OpenAI. Or this model cannot use web_search?
To actually make the tool list parameter, like tools=[{“type”: “web_search”}], work, you’ll need to set up a separate search engine.
Options include Google Programmable Search or DuckDuckGo, for example.
Keep in mind that while Google’s service lets you search without ads, it does come with an extra API fee.
Also, OpenAI doesn’t provide a built-in search service for API use, so that’s something to be aware of!
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Furthermore, the only “tool” parameters that you can create is "type": "functions". Functions that the AI can call and send to your code. Then your code does the internet work to return a response with information.
Any web_search tool is an invention - check who wrote that… 
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