Web Research: Multi-Source Information Gathering
Research any topic across multiple sources and receive a structured summary with citations, all from one conversation.
What You Will Get
After this setup, OpenClaw becomes your research assistant. You give it a topic, and it searches the web, checks Wikipedia, scans recent news, and reviews relevant papers. The result is a structured summary with key findings, source links, and areas of consensus or disagreement.
This workflow replaces hours of manual searching, opening dozens of tabs, and trying to synthesize information yourself. OpenClaw does the heavy lifting and presents a clean report you can use for decision-making, writing, or learning.
The multi-source approach ensures you get a balanced view. Web results cover popular opinions, Wikipedia provides foundational knowledge, news adds recency, and papers add depth. Together, they give you a well-rounded understanding of any topic.
Setup Steps
Configure OpenClaw for multi-source research.
Enable Web Search Tools
Make sure your OpenClaw instance on RunTheAgent has web browsing and search tools enabled. These allow the agent to query search engines, visit web pages, and extract content. Test by asking a simple factual question and verifying the agent cites a source.
Define the Research Template
Write a prompt instruction that tells OpenClaw to structure research reports with sections: Overview, Key Findings, Source Breakdown (web, wiki, news, academic), Conflicting Information, and Conclusion. This template ensures consistent, thorough output.
Set Source Priorities
Instruct OpenClaw to check at least three different source types for each query. For technical topics, prioritize documentation and papers. For current events, prioritize news. For general knowledge, start with Wikipedia.
Enable Citation Tracking
Tell OpenClaw to include a numbered citation for every claim in the report. At the end, list all sources with their URLs. This makes it easy to verify information and share the research with others.
Add Follow-Up Questions
After delivering the report, have OpenClaw suggest three follow-up questions worth exploring. This helps you dig deeper into aspects you might not have considered initially.
Configure Depth Levels
Define three research depth levels: Quick (one source, two-paragraph summary), Standard (three sources, full report), and Deep (five or more sources, detailed analysis). Start requests with 'quick research on X' or 'deep dive into Y' to control the depth.
Test with a Complex Topic
Run a research query on a topic with multiple perspectives, like 'current state of remote work productivity research.' Verify the report includes findings from different sources, notes any disagreements, and provides useful citations.
Tips and Best Practices
Be Specific in Your Query
Instead of 'tell me about AI,' ask 'what are the current best practices for fine-tuning small language models.' Specific queries produce far more useful reports.
Save Reports to Your Wiki
After receiving a research report, ask OpenClaw to save it to your personal wiki or notes. This builds a library of research you can reference later.
Cross-Reference Sources
When a finding appears in multiple independent sources, it is more likely to be accurate. Have OpenClaw highlight claims that appear across different source types.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Pages
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