Everyone probably saw this coming when Google went all-in on generative AI a few years back. The search giant announced that it"s pushing the biggest ever update to Google Chrome in the browser"s history, loaded with new AI features.
Chrome has been around since 2008, when browsers like Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox ruled the web space. The browser rose to popularity over the years and now has almost 70% of the market share. It also became the face of the ChromeOS operating system that powers Chromebook-branded laptops.
Google"s recent developments in the generative AI field are shaping the future of its web browser with a massive AI-centric update. The search giant stated:
Today, we"re taking another critical step in our journey to make the web better by making your browser smarter. This isn’t just about adding new features; it’s about fundamentally changing the nature of browsing, and moving from a passive experience to a more proactive and intelligent one.
Google wants to create a web browser that goes beyond "rendering the web" by leveraging context, such as the page you"re reading or the tabs you open. Google Chrome now comes fitted with the "Gemini in Chrome" AI browsing assistant that can answer questions about articles, summarize pages, and find references in YouTube videos.
The context-aware assistant can understand what you are doing across multiple tabs and integrate with other apps, including Google Docs, YouTube, Maps, and Calendar. Gemini in Chrome is currently rolling out to Windows and Mac users in the US and will be available soon on Android and iOS. Its language support is currently limited to English.
Google is also working on advanced agentic capabilities for the AI chatbot. In the coming months, Gemini in Chrome will be able to finish multi-step tasks like ordering groceries or booking a haircut. "You’ll remain in control as Chrome handles the tedious work, turning 30-minute chores into 3-click user journeys," the search giant added.
The chatbot will also help you find web pages from your browser history by throwing prompts like, "What was the website that I saw the walnut desk on last week?"
Big changes are also coming to Chrome"s address bar, or omnibox, which will get support for the AI Mode you"ve already seen on Google Search. AI Mode is an upgraded version of AI Overviews that can handle complex, multi-part questions and dive deeper to answer follow-up questions in a conversational way.
Chrome"s address bar is also getting contextual search suggestions that can suggest follow-up questions based on the content of the web page. For instance, the omnibox might suggest follow-up searches like "What"s the warranty policy?" when you"re browsing a mattress website.
Google said that contextual suggestions in the US are now available, and AI Mode will roll out later this month. Again, these two features currently work in English only and will expand to more countries in the coming weeks.
Chrome"s Enhanced Protection Mode, which utilizes Gemini Nano to detect tech support scams, will be updated to block websites that employ fake viruses or giveaways to deceive users. Google will also bring AI to its password manager, with the ability to change your compromised password in a single click on supported sites, including Spotify, Duolingo, H&M, Coursera, and others.
While the new features might be head turners and give a sneak peek into the future, it would be too early to forget that generative AI is still under development and should be dealt with caution. It"s evident from the fact that Google still writes, "Gemini can make mistakes, so double-check it," on the chatbot"s website.