Implement generative AI and agentic solutions 2.1 Build generative applications by using Foundry

You build a prompt agent on the o3-deep-research model for multi-step research and…

Study guide skill: Design workflows, tool-augmented flows, and multistep reasoning pipelines

Question B4-017

You build a prompt agent on the o3-deep-research model for multi-step research and synthesis over the public web. Other agents in the project get web search from a shared toolbox. How should the deep research agent get web search?

Select one answer.

  • A Add the Deep Research tool to the agent
  • B Connect it to the shared toolbox's MCP endpoint, like the other agents
  • C Use a Bing Custom Search connection limited to a few news domains
  • D Attach the direct web search preview tool to the agent itself instead of using the toolbox ✓ Correct answer

Answer: D

For deep research, the documentation pairs the o3-deep-research model with the direct web search preview tool and says not to route web search through a toolbox, because the model requires the direct Responses web search tool. This approach replaces the deprecated Deep Research tool. Bing Custom Search is for restricting results to configured domains, which the scenario doesn't ask for.

Deep dive

How it works

Foundry Agent Service's web search page has a dedicated scenario for deep research: an o3-deep-research agent that needs multi-step research and synthesis. For it, Microsoft uses the o3-deep-research model with the direct web search preview tool, attached to the agent itself.

Two notes from the page decide this question:

  • No toolbox. Don't route web search through a toolbox for deep research, because the model requires the direct Responses web search tool. Toolboxes are fine for the other agents, just not for this one.
  • The old tool is deprecated. This approach replaces the deprecated Deep Research tool.

Data handling still applies: Grounding with Bing data transfers occur outside compliance and geographic boundaries, and use incurs costs.

The other options, and when you'd use them

  • The Deep Research tool: It's deprecated and replaced by o3-deep-research plus direct web search.
  • The shared toolbox's MCP endpoint: The page says not to route deep research web search through a toolbox.
  • Bing Custom Search limited to news domains: That's the scenario where results must come only from configured public domains. Nothing here asks for that restriction.

Exam tip

o3-deep-research = direct web search preview tool on the agent itself, never through a toolbox. The Deep Research tool is deprecated.

References

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