diff --git a/lib/ai_bot/playground.rb b/lib/ai_bot/playground.rb
index 8a3b327f..1ce5d3ec 100644
--- a/lib/ai_bot/playground.rb
+++ b/lib/ai_bot/playground.rb
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ module DiscourseAi
         end
       end
 
-      def self.reply_to_post(post:, user: nil, persona_id: nil, whisper: nil)
+      def self.reply_to_post(post:, user: nil, persona_id: nil, whisper: nil, add_user_to_pm: false)
         ai_persona = AiPersona.find_by(id: persona_id)
         raise Discourse::InvalidParameters.new(:persona_id) if !ai_persona
         persona_class = ai_persona.class_instance
@@ -173,7 +173,12 @@ module DiscourseAi
         bot = DiscourseAi::AiBot::Bot.as(bot_user, persona: persona)
         playground = DiscourseAi::AiBot::Playground.new(bot)
 
-        playground.reply_to(post, whisper: whisper, context_style: :topic)
+        playground.reply_to(
+          post,
+          whisper: whisper,
+          context_style: :topic,
+          add_user_to_pm: add_user_to_pm,
+        )
       end
 
       def initialize(bot)
@@ -433,7 +438,14 @@ module DiscourseAi
         result
       end
 
-      def reply_to(post, custom_instructions: nil, whisper: nil, context_style: nil, &blk)
+      def reply_to(
+        post,
+        custom_instructions: nil,
+        whisper: nil,
+        context_style: nil,
+        add_user_to_pm: true,
+        &blk
+      )
         # this is a multithreading issue
         # post custom prompt is needed and it may not
         # be properly loaded, ensure it is loaded
@@ -470,7 +482,7 @@ module DiscourseAi
         stream_reply = post.topic.private_message?
 
         # we need to ensure persona user is allowed to reply to the pm
-        if post.topic.private_message?
+        if post.topic.private_message? && add_user_to_pm
           if !post.topic.topic_allowed_users.exists?(user_id: reply_user.id)
             post.topic.topic_allowed_users.create!(user_id: reply_user.id)
           end
@@ -485,6 +497,7 @@ module DiscourseAi
               skip_validations: true,
               skip_jobs: true,
               post_type: post_type,
+              skip_guardian: true,
             )
 
           publish_update(reply_post, { raw: reply_post.cooked })
@@ -560,6 +573,7 @@ module DiscourseAi
               raw: reply,
               skip_validations: true,
               post_type: post_type,
+              skip_guardian: true,
             )
         end
 
diff --git a/lib/ai_bot/tool_runner.rb b/lib/ai_bot/tool_runner.rb
index 2a3899ef..14af53e2 100644
--- a/lib/ai_bot/tool_runner.rb
+++ b/lib/ai_bot/tool_runner.rb
@@ -73,6 +73,9 @@ module DiscourseAi
         };
 
         const discourse = {
+          search: function(params) {
+            return _discourse_search(params);
+          },
           getPost: _discourse_get_post,
           getUser: _discourse_get_user,
           getPersona: function(name) {
@@ -341,6 +344,21 @@ module DiscourseAi
             end
           end,
         )
+
+        mini_racer_context.attach(
+          "_discourse_search",
+          ->(params) do
+            in_attached_function do
+              search_params = params.symbolize_keys
+              if search_params.delete(:with_private)
+                search_params[:current_user] = Discourse.system_user
+              end
+              search_params[:result_style] = :detailed
+              results = DiscourseAi::Utils::Search.perform_search(**search_params)
+              recursive_as_json(results)
+            end
+          end,
+        )
       end
 
       def attach_upload(mini_racer_context)
diff --git a/lib/ai_bot/tools/search.rb b/lib/ai_bot/tools/search.rb
index 5ddf78c3..a14e77d6 100644
--- a/lib/ai_bot/tools/search.rb
+++ b/lib/ai_bot/tools/search.rb
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ module DiscourseAi
                   enum: %w[latest latest_topic oldest views likes],
                 },
                 {
-                  name: "limit",
+                  name: "max_results",
                   description:
                     "limit number of results returned (generally prefer to just keep to default)",
                   type: "integer",
@@ -103,102 +103,38 @@ module DiscourseAi
 
         def invoke
           search_terms = []
-
           search_terms << options[:base_query] if options[:base_query].present?
-          search_terms << search_query.strip if search_query.present?
+          search_terms << search_query if search_query.present?
           search_args.each { |key, value| search_terms << "#{key}:#{value}" if value.present? }
 
-          guardian = nil
-          if options[:search_private] && context[:user]
-            guardian = Guardian.new(context[:user])
-          else
-            guardian = Guardian.new
-            search_terms << "status:public"
-          end
+          @last_query = search_terms.join(" ").to_s
 
-          search_string = search_terms.join(" ").to_s
-          @last_query = search_string
-
-          yield(I18n.t("discourse_ai.ai_bot.searching", query: search_string))
-
-          results = ::Search.execute(search_string, search_type: :full_page, guardian: guardian)
+          yield(I18n.t("discourse_ai.ai_bot.searching", query: @last_query))
 
           max_results = calculate_max_results(llm)
-          results_limit = parameters[:limit] || max_results
-          results_limit = max_results if parameters[:limit].to_i > max_results
-
-          should_try_semantic_search =
-            SiteSetting.ai_embeddings_semantic_search_enabled && search_query.present?
-
-          max_semantic_results = max_results / 4
-          results_limit = results_limit - max_semantic_results if should_try_semantic_search
-
-          posts = results&.posts || []
-          posts = posts[0..results_limit.to_i - 1]
-
-          if should_try_semantic_search
-            semantic_search = DiscourseAi::Embeddings::SemanticSearch.new(guardian)
-            topic_ids = Set.new(posts.map(&:topic_id))
-
-            search = ::Search.new(search_string, guardian: guardian)
-
-            results = nil
-            begin
-              results = semantic_search.search_for_topics(search.term)
-            rescue => e
-              Discourse.warn_exception(e, message: "Semantic search failed")
-            end
-
-            if results
-              results = search.apply_filters(results)
-
-              results.each do |post|
-                next if topic_ids.include?(post.topic_id)
-
-                topic_ids << post.topic_id
-                posts << post
-
-                break if posts.length >= max_results
-              end
-            end
+          if parameters[:max_results].to_i > 0
+            max_results = [parameters[:max_results].to_i, max_results].min
           end
 
-          @last_num_results = posts.length
-          # this is the general pattern from core
-          # if there are millions of hidden tags it may fail
-          hidden_tags = nil
+          search_query_with_base = [options[:base_query], search_query].compact.join(" ").strip
 
-          if posts.blank?
-            { args: parameters, rows: [], instruction: "nothing was found, expand your search" }
-          else
-            format_results(posts, args: parameters) do |post|
-              category_names = [
-                post.topic.category&.parent_category&.name,
-                post.topic.category&.name,
-              ].compact.join(" > ")
-              row = {
-                title: post.topic.title,
-                url: Discourse.base_path + post.url,
-                username: post.user&.username,
-                excerpt: post.excerpt,
-                created: post.created_at,
-                category: category_names,
-                likes: post.like_count,
-                topic_views: post.topic.views,
-                topic_likes: post.topic.like_count,
-                topic_replies: post.topic.posts_count - 1,
-              }
+          results =
+            DiscourseAi::Utils::Search.perform_search(
+              search_query: search_query_with_base,
+              category: parameters[:category],
+              user: parameters[:user],
+              order: parameters[:order],
+              max_posts: parameters[:max_posts],
+              tags: parameters[:tags],
+              before: parameters[:before],
+              after: parameters[:after],
+              status: parameters[:status],
+              max_results: max_results,
+              current_user: options[:search_private] ? context[:user] : nil,
+            )
 
-              if SiteSetting.tagging_enabled
-                hidden_tags ||= DiscourseTagging.hidden_tag_names
-                # using map over pluck to avoid n+1 (assuming caller preloading)
-                tags = post.topic.tags.map(&:name) - hidden_tags
-                row[:tags] = tags.join(", ") if tags.present?
-              end
-
-              row
-            end
-          end
+          @last_num_results = results[:rows]&.length || 0
+          results
         end
 
         protected
diff --git a/lib/utils/search.rb b/lib/utils/search.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6e124b5a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/utils/search.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,151 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+module DiscourseAi
+  module Utils
+    class Search
+      def self.perform_search(
+        search_query: nil,
+        category: nil,
+        user: nil,
+        order: nil,
+        max_posts: nil,
+        tags: nil,
+        before: nil,
+        after: nil,
+        status: nil,
+        hyde: true,
+        max_results: 20,
+        current_user: nil,
+        result_style: :compact
+      )
+        search_terms = []
+
+        search_terms << search_query.strip if search_query.present?
+        search_terms << "category:#{category}" if category.present?
+        search_terms << "user:#{user}" if user.present?
+        search_terms << "order:#{order}" if order.present?
+        search_terms << "max_posts:#{max_posts}" if max_posts.present?
+        search_terms << "tags:#{tags}" if tags.present?
+        search_terms << "before:#{before}" if before.present?
+        search_terms << "after:#{after}" if after.present?
+        search_terms << "status:#{status}" if status.present?
+
+        guardian = Guardian.new(current_user)
+
+        search_string = search_terms.join(" ").to_s
+
+        results = ::Search.execute(search_string, search_type: :full_page, guardian: guardian)
+        results_limit = max_results
+
+        should_try_semantic_search =
+          SiteSetting.ai_embeddings_semantic_search_enabled && search_query.present?
+
+        max_semantic_results = max_results / 4
+        results_limit = results_limit - max_semantic_results if should_try_semantic_search
+
+        posts = results&.posts || []
+        posts = posts[0..results_limit.to_i - 1]
+
+        if should_try_semantic_search
+          semantic_search = DiscourseAi::Embeddings::SemanticSearch.new(guardian)
+          topic_ids = Set.new(posts.map(&:topic_id))
+
+          search = ::Search.new(search_string, guardian: guardian)
+
+          semantic_results = nil
+          begin
+            semantic_results = semantic_search.search_for_topics(search.term, hyde: hyde)
+          rescue => e
+            Discourse.warn_exception(e, message: "Semantic search failed")
+          end
+
+          if semantic_results
+            semantic_results = search.apply_filters(semantic_results)
+
+            semantic_results.each do |post|
+              next if topic_ids.include?(post.topic_id)
+
+              topic_ids << post.topic_id
+              posts << post
+
+              break if posts.length >= max_results
+            end
+          end
+        end
+
+        hidden_tags = nil
+
+        # Construct search_args hash for consistent return format
+        search_args = {
+          search_query: search_query,
+          category: category,
+          user: user,
+          order: order,
+          max_posts: max_posts,
+          tags: tags,
+          before: before,
+          after: after,
+          status: status,
+          max_results: max_results,
+        }.compact
+
+        if posts.blank?
+          { args: search_args, rows: [], instruction: "nothing was found, expand your search" }
+        else
+          format_results(posts, args: search_args, result_style: result_style) do |post|
+            category_names = [
+              post.topic.category&.parent_category&.name,
+              post.topic.category&.name,
+            ].compact.join(" > ")
+            row = {
+              title: post.topic.title,
+              url: Discourse.base_path + post.url,
+              username: post.user&.username,
+              excerpt: post.excerpt,
+              created: post.created_at,
+              category: category_names,
+              likes: post.like_count,
+              topic_views: post.topic.views,
+              topic_likes: post.topic.like_count,
+              topic_replies: post.topic.posts_count - 1,
+            }
+
+            if SiteSetting.tagging_enabled
+              hidden_tags ||= DiscourseTagging.hidden_tag_names
+              tags = post.topic.tags.map(&:name) - hidden_tags
+              row[:tags] = tags.join(", ") if tags.present?
+            end
+
+            row
+          end
+        end
+      end
+
+      private
+
+      def self.format_results(rows, args: nil, result_style:)
+        rows = rows&.map { |row| yield row } if block_given?
+
+        if result_style == :compact
+          index = -1
+          column_indexes = {}
+
+          rows =
+            rows&.map do |data|
+              new_row = []
+              data.each do |key, value|
+                found_index = column_indexes[key.to_s] ||= (index += 1)
+                new_row[found_index] = value
+              end
+              new_row
+            end
+          column_names = column_indexes.keys
+        end
+
+        result = { column_names: column_names, rows: rows }
+        result[:args] = args if args
+        result
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/lib/discourse_automation/llm_persona_triage_spec.rb b/spec/lib/discourse_automation/llm_persona_triage_spec.rb
index 37e40193..9e1f2a9b 100644
--- a/spec/lib/discourse_automation/llm_persona_triage_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/discourse_automation/llm_persona_triage_spec.rb
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ describe DiscourseAi::Automation::LlmPersonaTriage do
     expect(context).to include("support")
   end
 
-  it "passes private message metadata in context when responding to PM" do
+  it "interacts correctly with PMs" do
     # Create a private message topic
     pm_topic = Fabricate(:private_message_topic, user: user, title: "Important PM")
 
@@ -190,6 +190,8 @@ describe DiscourseAi::Automation::LlmPersonaTriage do
     # Capture the prompt sent to the LLM
     prompt = nil
 
+    original_user_ids = pm_topic.topic_allowed_users.pluck(:user_id)
+
     DiscourseAi::Completions::Llm.with_prepared_responses(
       ["I've received your private message"],
     ) do |_, _, _prompts|
@@ -204,5 +206,13 @@ describe DiscourseAi::Automation::LlmPersonaTriage do
     expect(context).to include("Important PM")
     expect(context).to include(pm_post.raw)
     expect(context).to include(pm_post2.raw)
+
+    reply = pm_topic.posts.order(:post_number).last
+    expect(reply.raw).to eq("I've received your private message")
+
+    topic = reply.topic
+
+    # should not inject persona into allowed users
+    expect(topic.topic_allowed_users.pluck(:user_id).sort).to eq(original_user_ids.sort)
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/lib/modules/ai_bot/tools/search_spec.rb b/spec/lib/modules/ai_bot/tools/search_spec.rb
index 976d9c42..94dba3c7 100644
--- a/spec/lib/modules/ai_bot/tools/search_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/modules/ai_bot/tools/search_spec.rb
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ RSpec.describe DiscourseAi::AiBot::Tools::Search do
 
       results = search.invoke(&progress_blk)
 
-      expect(results[:args]).to eq({ search_query: "ABDDCDCEDGDG", order: "fake" })
+      expect(results[:args]).to eq({ search_query: "ABDDCDCEDGDG", order: "fake", max_results: 60 })
       expect(results[:rows]).to eq([])
     end
 
@@ -131,7 +131,9 @@ RSpec.describe DiscourseAi::AiBot::Tools::Search do
             search.invoke(&progress_blk)
           end
 
-        expect(results[:args]).to eq({ search_query: "hello world, sam", status: "public" })
+        expect(results[:args]).to eq(
+          { max_results: 60, search_query: "hello world, sam", status: "public" },
+        )
         expect(results[:rows].length).to eq(1)
 
         # it also works with no query
@@ -174,6 +176,7 @@ RSpec.describe DiscourseAi::AiBot::Tools::Search do
               [param[:name], "test"]
             end
           end
+          .compact
           .to_h
           .symbolize_keys
 
diff --git a/spec/lib/utils/search_spec.rb b/spec/lib/utils/search_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d8dfdbf9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/lib/utils/search_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,198 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+RSpec.describe DiscourseAi::Utils::Search do
+  before { SearchIndexer.enable }
+  after { SearchIndexer.disable }
+
+  fab!(:admin)
+  fab!(:user)
+  fab!(:group)
+  fab!(:parent_category) { Fabricate(:category, name: "animals") }
+  fab!(:category) { Fabricate(:category, parent_category: parent_category, name: "amazing-cat") }
+  fab!(:tag_funny) { Fabricate(:tag, name: "funny") }
+  fab!(:tag_sad) { Fabricate(:tag, name: "sad") }
+  fab!(:tag_hidden) { Fabricate(:tag, name: "hidden") }
+  fab!(:staff_tag_group) do
+    tag_group = Fabricate.build(:tag_group, name: "Staff only", tag_names: ["hidden"])
+
+    tag_group.permissions = [
+      [Group::AUTO_GROUPS[:staff], TagGroupPermission.permission_types[:full]],
+    ]
+    tag_group.save!
+    tag_group
+  end
+
+  fab!(:topic_with_tags) do
+    Fabricate(:topic, category: category, tags: [tag_funny, tag_sad, tag_hidden])
+  end
+
+  fab!(:private_category) do
+    c = Fabricate(:category_with_definition)
+    c.set_permissions(group => :readonly)
+    c.save
+    c
+  end
+
+  describe ".perform_search" do
+    it "returns search results with correct format" do
+      post = Fabricate(:post, topic: topic_with_tags)
+
+      results =
+        described_class.perform_search(
+          search_query: post.raw,
+          user: post.user.username,
+          current_user: admin,
+        )
+
+      expect(results).to have_key(:args)
+      expect(results).to have_key(:rows)
+      expect(results).to have_key(:column_names)
+      expect(results[:rows].length).to eq(1)
+    end
+
+    it "handles no results" do
+      results =
+        described_class.perform_search(
+          search_query: "NONEXISTENTTERMNOONEWOULDSEARCH",
+          current_user: admin,
+        )
+
+      expect(results[:rows]).to eq([])
+      expect(results[:instruction]).to eq("nothing was found, expand your search")
+    end
+
+    it "returns private results when user has access" do
+      private_post = Fabricate(:post, topic: Fabricate(:topic, category: private_category))
+
+      # Regular user without access
+      results = described_class.perform_search(search_query: private_post.raw, current_user: user)
+      expect(results[:rows].length).to eq(0)
+
+      # Add user to group with access
+      GroupUser.create!(group: group, user: user)
+
+      # Now should find the private post
+      results = described_class.perform_search(search_query: private_post.raw, current_user: user)
+      expect(results[:rows].length).to eq(1)
+    end
+
+    it "properly handles subfolder URLs" do
+      Discourse.stubs(:base_path).returns("/subfolder")
+
+      post = Fabricate(:post, topic: topic_with_tags)
+
+      results = described_class.perform_search(search_query: post.raw, current_user: admin)
+
+      url_index = results[:column_names].index("url")
+      expect(results[:rows][0][url_index]).to include("/subfolder")
+    end
+
+    it "returns rich topic information" do
+      post = Fabricate(:post, like_count: 1, topic: topic_with_tags)
+      post.topic.update!(views: 100, posts_count: 2, like_count: 10)
+
+      results = described_class.perform_search(search_query: post.raw, current_user: admin)
+
+      row = results[:rows].first
+
+      category_index = results[:column_names].index("category")
+      expect(row[category_index]).to eq("animals > amazing-cat")
+
+      tags_index = results[:column_names].index("tags")
+      expect(row[tags_index]).to eq("funny, sad")
+
+      likes_index = results[:column_names].index("likes")
+      expect(row[likes_index]).to eq(1)
+
+      topic_likes_index = results[:column_names].index("topic_likes")
+      expect(row[topic_likes_index]).to eq(10)
+
+      topic_views_index = results[:column_names].index("topic_views")
+      expect(row[topic_views_index]).to eq(100)
+
+      topic_replies_index = results[:column_names].index("topic_replies")
+      expect(row[topic_replies_index]).to eq(1)
+    end
+
+    context "when using semantic search" do
+      let(:query) { "this is an expanded search" }
+      after do
+        if defined?(DiscourseAi::Embeddings::SemanticSearch)
+          DiscourseAi::Embeddings::SemanticSearch.clear_cache_for(query)
+        end
+      end
+
+      it "includes semantic search results when enabled" do
+        assign_fake_provider_to(:ai_embeddings_semantic_search_hyde_model)
+        vector_def = Fabricate(:embedding_definition)
+        SiteSetting.ai_embeddings_selected_model = vector_def.id
+        SiteSetting.ai_embeddings_semantic_search_enabled = true
+
+        hyde_embedding = [0.049382] * vector_def.dimensions
+        EmbeddingsGenerationStubs.hugging_face_service(query, hyde_embedding)
+
+        post = Fabricate(:post, topic: topic_with_tags)
+        DiscourseAi::Embeddings::Schema.for(Topic).store(post.topic, hyde_embedding, "digest")
+
+        # Using a completely different search query, should still find via semantic search
+        results =
+          DiscourseAi::Completions::Llm.with_prepared_responses(["<ai>#{query}</ai>"]) do
+            described_class.perform_search(
+              search_query: "totally different query",
+              current_user: admin,
+            )
+          end
+
+        expect(results[:rows].length).to eq(1)
+      end
+
+      it "can disable semantic search with hyde parameter" do
+        assign_fake_provider_to(:ai_embeddings_semantic_search_hyde_model)
+        vector_def = Fabricate(:embedding_definition)
+        SiteSetting.ai_embeddings_selected_model = vector_def.id
+        SiteSetting.ai_embeddings_semantic_search_enabled = true
+
+        embedding = [0.049382] * vector_def.dimensions
+        EmbeddingsGenerationStubs.hugging_face_service(query, embedding)
+
+        post = Fabricate(:post, topic: topic_with_tags)
+        DiscourseAi::Embeddings::Schema.for(Topic).store(post.topic, embedding, "digest")
+
+        WebMock
+          .stub_request(:post, "https://test.com/embeddings")
+          .with(body: "{\"inputs\":\"totally different query\",\"truncate\":true}")
+          .to_return(status: 200, body: embedding.to_json)
+
+        results =
+          described_class.perform_search(
+            search_query: "totally different query",
+            hyde: false,
+            current_user: admin,
+          )
+
+        expect(results[:rows].length).to eq(0)
+      end
+    end
+
+    it "passes all search parameters to the results args" do
+      post = Fabricate(:post, topic: topic_with_tags)
+
+      search_params = {
+        search_query: post.raw,
+        category: category.name,
+        user: post.user.username,
+        order: "latest",
+        max_posts: 10,
+        tags: tag_funny.name,
+        before: "2030-01-01",
+        after: "2000-01-01",
+        status: "public",
+        max_results: 15,
+      }
+
+      results = described_class.perform_search(**search_params, current_user: admin)
+
+      expect(results[:args]).to include(search_params)
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/models/ai_tool_spec.rb b/spec/models/ai_tool_spec.rb
index 66a826a9..282a57b5 100644
--- a/spec/models/ai_tool_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/ai_tool_spec.rb
@@ -328,4 +328,37 @@ RSpec.describe AiTool do
       expect(result).to eq(expected)
     end
   end
+
+  context "when using the search API" do
+    before { SearchIndexer.enable }
+    after { SearchIndexer.disable }
+
+    it "can perform a discourse search" do
+      # Create a new topic
+      topic = Fabricate(:topic, title: "Test Search Topic", category: Fabricate(:category))
+      post = Fabricate(:post, topic: topic, raw: "This is a test post content, banana")
+
+      # Ensure the topic is indexed
+      SearchIndexer.index(topic, force: true)
+      SearchIndexer.index(post, force: true)
+
+      # Define the tool script
+      script = <<~JS
+      function invoke(params) {
+        return discourse.search({ search_query: params.query });
+      }
+    JS
+
+      # Create the tool and runner
+      tool = create_tool(script: script)
+      runner = tool.runner({ "query" => "banana" }, llm: nil, bot_user: nil, context: {})
+
+      # Invoke the tool and get the results
+      result = runner.invoke
+
+      # Verify the topic is found
+      expect(result["rows"].length).to be > 0
+      expect(result["rows"].first["title"]).to eq("Test Search Topic")
+    end
+  end
 end