Nano AI Search

Nano AI Search comes from Qihoo 360, the Chinese internet security company. It began life as 360 AI Search and was later renamed and run as its own product. Its approach differs from peers that focus purely on accurate answers: it is closer to an all-in-one AI front door, where search is only the starting point and around it sit multi-model chat, photo search, voice search and agents that carry out tasks.

One clear feature is that it is not tied to a single in-house model. You can switch between several Chinese large models and ask the same question again to compare. For anyone who wants to compare models side by side without signing up everywhere, that is convenient. Coverage of Chinese web pages and domestic news is also broad, building on 360’s search background, so everyday lookups are well served.

The catch is that so many features make the product feel cluttered, and the interface carries a fair amount of promotion and prompts to download apps. If you just want a clean question-answering tool with citations, it is not the most relaxing choice. If you are willing to pick out the features you actually need, the free offering is generous.

Key features

• AI search: it searches the web and writes a summarised answer with references you can open to check.
• Model switching: choose among several Chinese large models to answer, which makes comparison easy.
• Multiple input modes: besides typing, you can search with a photo or ask by voice.
• Agent tasks: agents can carry out multi-step tasks and turn search results into finished output such as reports.
• Across devices: available on the web, mobile apps and a desktop client, so quick lookups and longer research sessions each have a suitable entry point.

How to use

1. Open the Nano AI Search website, or install the mobile app or desktop client.
2. Type a question to search; for another angle, switch to a different model and regenerate the answer.
3. When you hit a key conclusion, open the referenced source and confirm what it actually says.
4. When you need a complete piece of content, try the agent feature with a clear topic and requirements, then edit the result by hand.

Best for

• Everyday Chinese-language lookups: domestic news and practical questions, with broad coverage and quick responses.
• Comparing models: run one question across several models and see the differences directly.
• Quick searches on a phone: identifying objects by photo or asking by voice is easier than typing.
• Fast first drafts: let an agent organise search results into a report you can edit.

Strengths and limitations

Strengths

• A lot is free, and model switching is genuinely useful for people comparing models.
• Good coverage of Chinese web pages and domestic news.
• Rich input options and a comfortable mobile experience.

Limitations

• Feature sprawl makes the product feel unfocused; you have to work out which parts are worth using.
• Promotions and download prompts in the interface get in the way of reading.
• Cited sources vary in quality, so specialist answers still need checking against the originals.
• It sits inside the 360 ecosystem, which will not suit users who care about privacy or dislike 360’s products.