Chrome Browser Now Sports AI Integration Courtesy of Google
Google has unveiled a reimagined version of its Chrome browser, integrating AI technology to enhance user experience. The new features include Gemini integration and an agentic AI, aiming to create a truly helpful digital assistant.
Rick Osterloh, Senior Vice President of Platforms and Devices at Google, expressed the company's vision for AI, stating that they strive to develop technology that assists users effectively.
One of the key features of the updated Chrome browser is Gemini, a personal assistant that can help users execute tasks such as comparing information across tabs and simplifying complex tasks like planning a trip. Google plans to expand Gemini's language support next year, including Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, and Brazilian Portuguese, as part of its global rollout.
The Gemini Agent, a component of the new AI-powered browser, can recall previously visited web pages and access other Google apps like Calendar, Maps, and YouTube. It operates in the background while users browse the web and stops before completing any 'high-risk' tasks, allowing users to review and make changes.
Google's Gemini Agent is native to the Chrome browser and will be available across all platforms, including Mac and Windows desktops, and soon for iOS users. As of today, the Gemini chatbot is available to all Chrome users without a Google One membership.
Contextual suggestions for users in the US are available now, and the AI Mode in the omnibox will roll out in the US later this month. OpenAI has also announced agentic browsing, but reviews of the feature have been mixed. Notably, OpenAI's ChatGPT Agent is locked behind a $20 per month paywall.
Google is evolving the browser to help users get the most from the web with AI tools. The most intriguing feature that Google will be rolling into its AI-ified browser is agentic browsing, allowing users to assign Gemini to handle multi-step tasks and navigate the web on their behalf.
The company managed to avoid selling its Chrome browser as a penalty for operating an illegal monopoly in its search business. While Google's AI Mode will offer an AI Overview of any webpage visited by users, OpenAI's browsing features remain to be seen in terms of widespread adoption and user satisfaction.
