AI Glossary Term
What does “Tool Use” mean?
Definition
A model's ability to call external tools such as search, calculators, or APIs.
How Tool Use works
Example
Asked for 17.5 percent of 2,840, a model calls a calculator instead of guessing, then writes the result in its reply. Another time it runs a web search to find a current price.
Why it matters
Tools let models do things text prediction alone does poorly, such as exact math or fresh facts. Each tool also needs permission limits.
Common questions
What tools can models use?
Search engines, calculators, code interpreters, databases, and other software exposed to them.
Who controls which tools are available?
The application developer, who defines what the model may call.
Is tool use safe?
Only with care. Tools that change data or spend money should have limits and, often, user confirmation.