Google Chrome Is Becoming an AI Browser – Starting Today

If a lack of glittery AI baubles in your preferred web browser has you feeling like a luddite, fear ye not: Google has announced a new AI browser — one you may have heard of: Chrome.

In a new blog post, Google has unveiled a bold “reimagining” of Google Chrome suffused with AI, turning it from mere webpage renderer to an “intelligent partner that learns and adapts to your needs”¹ as you browse.

Google says this is not about tacking on new features to Chrome — which I’m choosing to take as a dig at Mozilla as it frantically slaps AI onto Firefox, like a cartoon character laying track ahead of a runaway train — but “fundamentally changing the nature of browsing.”

It means “moving from a passive experience to a more proactive and intelligent one”, one with Gemini sat behind the failed emerald green curtain as all-knowing oracle, diviner of truth and definer of shared reality.

You’re right! Would you like to know what’s coming?

The bulk of Chrome’s “AI” infusion will take place in the omnibox (what Google calls its address bar) as part of “AI Mode”. Here, rather than type a web address or search term into the URL bar, you’re able to ask Gemini questions and have it find things out for you.

Rather than type a web address or search term into the URL bar, you can ask Gemini to find things out for you

Of course, whether it pulls info from trusted sources or the hundreds of thousands of low-effort AI generated SEO slop that genuine human-written content (like mine) is being drowned out by is besides the point.

Google’s flagship example involves a student with ‘dozens of tabs open’ who can’t be bothered to read their sources: “Instead of spending hours jumping between [them] and trying to connect the dots, your new AI browsing assistant… can do it for you.”

On regular web pages, ‘contextual suggestions’ in the omnibox will anticipate follow-up questions that you may (or may not) have.

Looking at a product? Chrome might suggest asking Gemini about the returns policy (too which any genuine intelligence would sarcastically answer with: “Scroll down the page you’re on and find out yourself, your lazy oaf”).

Google is also adding so-called ‘agentic’ capabilities’ to Chrome.

Google’s official video demoing the new feature

Agentic handling lets you delegate tasks, like ordering your weekly food shop, a restaurant table for an important anniversary, movie or gig tickets, and so on on your behalf.

“Chrome handles the tedious work, turning 30-minute chores into 3-click user journeys,” Google says, with the feigned sincerity of an infomercial clip (or “influencer” as they’re known) belabouring the effort it takes to dosomething trivial.

“Joey, be excited! Be-be excited!” — you’re right; AI browsers with agentic assistants: what’s the worst that could happen?!.

Would you like me to tell you when you can get this?

The features begin rolling out to US users on Mac and Windows desktop starting this month, with international expansion promised in ‘the weeks ahead’. Google says it will also add the same feature to Android and iOS builds of the browser ‘soon’.

No word on Linux available yet, mind.

The more ambitious agentic features will begin rolling out in the ‘coming months’, giving Google plenty of time to work out the kinks before you find it’s ordered a truck of bananas (not a bandana) or books you in for a weekend wellness break in North Korea.

Fresh off justifying to the DoJ why anti-trust concerns were misplaced and that it shouldn’t be forced to sell Chrome because AI is eating the web, Google announces plans to transform its market-dominant web browser into a frontend for its own AI service…