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Agentic retrieval breaks multi-part questions into focused searches
The example contrasts one similarity search with a model-planned retrieval path that breaks a multi-part question into sub-queries, and says it examines traces and costs. Engineers building RAG systems can weigh broader query coverage against added retrieval expense.
- What
- Agentic retrieval plans searches for multi-part questions, rather than relying on a single similarity search.
- How
- It breaks a question into sub-queries, checks whether evidence is sufficient, and searches again when needed; standard retrieval runs one hybrid search.
- Why it matters
- The choice between single-shot and multi-step retrieval lets engineers weigh evidence coverage against retrieval cost.
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