Impending Custom Search API deprecation

[ChlodAlejandro]

Google is deprecating the Custom Search API in favor of some other service: https://developers.google.com/custom-search/v1/overview

Note: The Custom Search JSON API is closed to new customers. Vertex AI Search is a favorable alternative for searching up to 50 domains. Alternatively, if your use case necessitates full web search, contact us to express your interest in and get more information about our full web search solution.

Existing Custom Search JSON API customers have until January 1, 2027 to transition to an alternative solution.

We have until January 1, 2027 to transition to some other service or off of Google entirely, depending on which option we take here.

[earwig]

Good catch. I'll discuss this with the WMF since they are in contact with Google. I hope/assume this "full web search solution" is something we'll be able to access.

[ChlodAlejandro]

@MusikAnimal suggests filing a task on Phabricator about it so that he can forward it to the relevant decision-making people, so we should probably start with that. I'll let you handle it unless you'd like me to file it for you. 👍

[earwig]

Sounds good; filed https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/T425144.