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+# Design: Simplify LLM Provider Trait — Single `call_llm` Method
+
+**Date**: 2026-03-24
+**Scope**: Collapse `LlmProvider` trait from 3 methods to 1, unify all provider implementations
+
+---
+
+## Context
+
+The current `LlmProvider` trait has 3 methods: `generate_search_pass` (with web search), `generate_rewrite_pass` (without web search), and `supports_web_search`. This split was designed for an adaptive pipeline that used provider-native web search tools. The pipeline no longer uses web search tools — all providers now receive the same prompt and return structured JSON. The distinction between search and rewrite passes is artificial and adds unnecessary complexity.
+
+## New Trait
+
+```rust
+#[async_trait]
+pub trait LlmProvider: Send + Sync {
+    fn provider_id(&self) -> &str;
+
+    async fn call_llm(
+        &self,
+        model: &str,
+        system_prompt: &str,
+        user_prompt: &str,
+        response_schema: &Value,
+    ) -> Result<Value, AppError>;
+}
+```
+
+`ProviderCapabilities` struct removed. `supports_web_search()` removed.
+
+## Provider Implementations
+
+### OpenAI
+
+- Uses the Responses API (`POST /v1/responses`) exclusively
+- No `web_search_preview` tool — never enabled
+- Structured output via `text.format.json_schema`
+- Drops the Chat Completions API path entirely (`call_chat_completions_api` removed)
+- `call_responses_api` becomes the `call_llm` implementation (without `include_web_search` parameter)
+- `extract_responses_api_content` stays (parses Responses API output format)
+- `extract_chat_completions_content` removed
+
+### Gemini
+
+- Uses `generateContent` API as before
+- No `googleSearch` tool — never enabled
+- Structured output via `generationConfig.responseSchema`
+- `build_request_body` simplified: `include_search` parameter removed
+- Single `call_llm` implementation
+
+### Anthropic
+
+- Uses Messages API as before
+- No web search tool
+- `call_llm` is the single implementation
+
+## Caller Impact
+
+All 6+ call sites change from `generate_search_pass(...)` or `generate_rewrite_pass(...)` to `call_llm(...)`. Same arguments, just renamed. No logic change.
+
+## Files to Modify
+
+- **Rewrite:** `backend/src/services/llm/mod.rs` — new trait, remove `ProviderCapabilities`
+- **Rewrite:** `backend/src/services/llm/openai.rs` — single `call_llm` via Responses API, remove Chat Completions path
+- **Rewrite:** `backend/src/services/llm/gemini.rs` — single `call_llm`, remove web search
+- **Rewrite:** `backend/src/services/llm/anthropic.rs` — single `call_llm`
+- **Modify:** `backend/src/services/llm/factory.rs` — update tests (remove `supports_web_search` assertions)
+- **Modify:** `backend/src/services/synthesis.rs` — rename all call sites to `call_llm`
+- **Modify:** `backend/src/services/source_scraper.rs` — rename call site
+- **Modify:** `backend/src/handlers/api_keys.rs` — rename call site (key test)
+
+## What Does NOT Change
+
+- `Arc<dyn LlmProvider>` — factory still returns `Arc`
+- `schema.rs` — all schema builders stay
+- `prompts.rs` — all prompt builders stay
+- Frontend — no changes
+- Database — no changes
+- LLM call logging — `log_llm_call` works the same (prompt + response + timing)