Google Chrome AI launches Auto Browse agent to handle tedious web tasks autonomously

Google begins rolling out Chrome's "Auto Browse" AI agent today

Google began stuffing Gemini into its dominant Chrome browser several months ago, and today the AI is expanding its capabilities considerably. Google says the chatbot will be easier to access and connect to more Google services, but the biggest change is the addition of Google's autonomous browsing agent, which it has dubbed Auto Browse. Similar to tools like OpenAI Atlas, Auto Browse can handle tedious tasks in Chrome so you don't have to. The newly unveiled Gemini features in Chrome are accessible from the omnipresent AI button that has been lurking at the top of the window for the last few months. Initially, that button only opened Gemini in a pop-up window, but Google now says it will default to a split-screen or "Sidepanel" view. Google confirmed the update began rolling out over the past week, so you may already have it. You can still pop Gemini out into a floating window, but the split-view gives Gemini more room to breathe while manipulating a page with AI. This is also helpful when calling other apps in the Chrome implementation of Gemini. The chatbot can now access Gmail, Calendar, YouTube, Maps, Google Shopping, and Google Flights right from the Chrome window. Google technically added this feature around the middle of January, but it's only talking about it now. Gemini in Chrome can now also access and edit images with Nano Banana, so you don't have to download and re-upload them to Gemini in another location. Just open the image from the web and type in the Sidepanel with a description of the edits you want. Like in the Gemini app, you can choose between the slower but higher-quality Pro model and the faster standard one. Can't someone else do it? Chrome's new browsing agent (in preview) is the star of today's show. The promise of agentic AI is one of the freedom to be lazy. Rather than filling out forms or copying information from emails, you simply task a robot with the job and relax while it goes to work. At least, that's how it's supposed to go. Most of the computer-use agents we've seen so far have been sluggish and unreliable enough to require human supervision. That kind of defeats the purpose. Now it's Google's turn to show us what its browsing agent can do. Google says Auto Browse is based on its latest Gemini 3 models, with input from the company's work on the experimental Project Mariner agent. If you'd do something with a keyboard and mouse inside your browser, Auto Browse is theoretically able to take over. It can also access the content and tabs in your browser, asking for permission when it needs sensitive data, such as your passwords. When you launch an Auto Browse task, Chrome will open new tabs as necessary and mark them with a sparkly AI icon so you know where the robot is active. You don't have to keep that tab in the foreground, and you can even have multiple AI tasks going at once. The AI will ping you to check in when the task is done or when it needs your input. However, there are limits on Auto Browse similar to some of the company's more computationally intensive chatbot functions. AI Pro subscribers get 20 AI browsing tasks per day, but those paying for AI Ultra get 200 per day. Having the AI churning in the background may be a concern -- after all, generative AI can make mistakes, and you are giving it complete control over the browsing experience. Google says it has implemented a range of security and safety rules to prevent misuse. For example, if you ask Auto Browse to research and buy something, it won't actually buy it. Instead, it will find the item (hopefully) and progress to the purchase screen before letting you pull the trigger manually. Another thing to keep in mind is that Auto Browse doesn't run locally. All content from your robotically operated tab is streamed to a cloud-based Gemini model. That means page content will be shared with Google, but the extent is not entirely clear. Google says Auto Browse is governed by the established Gemini in Chrome policy, which says Google stores information from websites in the Gemini Apps Activity (if Keep Activity is enabled). Page content is also "logged to your Google Account temporarily." We asked if Google would use page contents processed by Auto Browse to further train AI models, but a spokesperson declined to provide specifics. Chrome Auto Browse is rolling out today in preview, but it's not exactly free. It won't cost anything extra, but the feature is limited to AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers. Google's language suggests the feature may come to free users after the preview phase, but we'd expect strict usage limits.

Chrome takes on AI browsers with tighter Gemini integration, agentic features for autonomous tasks

2025 was the year when a swarm of AI browsers from companies like OpenAI, Perplexity, Opera, and The Browser Company launched with an aim to replace Chrome with features like sidebar assistants and automated tasks. Now, Google is flexing its own AI muscles by adding similar features to Chrome, the world's largest browser by market share. While Google had introduced Gemini to Chrome last September, the assistant lived in a floating window. With this update, the company will put its AI helper into a persistent sidebar, so you can ask questions about the current website or other open tabs. One interesting feature Google demoed to press ahead of today's launch involved multiple tabs. When you open different tabs from a single webpage, the Gemini sidebar understands them as a context group. This is helpful when you are comparing prices or different products you're considering purchasing. Before today, the Gemini in Chrome feature was available only to Windows and MacOS users. With this rollout, the sidebar will be available to Chromebook Plus users as well. Google is also taking advantage of its newly launched personal intelligence feature, which connects to your Gmail, Search, YouTube, and Google Photos accounts, allowing you to ask questions based on your own data. This feature will roll out in Chrome in the coming months, meaning that you can ask Gemini in the sidebar about things like your family's schedule, or ask it to draft an email and send it without switching to Gmail. There's a new Nano Banana integration coming to Chrome, too, that allows you to modify an existing image with another image or product that you find while browsing. However, the most ambitious feature is called auto-browse, which aims to handle tasks for you by using your personal information and traversing websites on your behalf. For instance, you can ask the agentic feature to go to a particular website and buy an item for you, and find a discount coupon. The agent will ask for your intervention when performing data-sensitive tasks, such as logging into a website or making a final purchase. Last year, the company explained that these features would use Chrome's password manager or saved card details, but said its AI models wouldn't be exposed to any of these details. This feature is rolling out initially to AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the U.S. Browser-based agents are finicky and often fail to complete tasks. Google's demo, just like tons of other AI demos, involved shopping and travel planning. In real-world use cases, agents often don't get the intent or break during traversing different sites, and that would be a challenge for wider adoption. The company said that in its early testing, users have used the feature for tasks such as scheduling appointments, filling out tedious online forms, collecting their tax documents, getting quotes for plumbers and electricians, and filing expense reports. The company said that the Gemini sidebar support and Nano Banana integration are arriving starting today, while the personal intelligence feature will be available in the "coming months."

Google's New Chrome 'Auto Browse' Agent Attempts to Roam the Web Without You

Google's latest addition to its Chrome browser puts generative AI behind the wheel and you in the passenger seat. Google debuted a new "Auto Browse" feature for Chrome on Wednesday. The tool, powered by Google's current Gemini 3 generative AI model, is an AI agent designed to take over your Chrome browser to help complete online tasks like booking flights, finding apartments, and filing expenses. The release of Auto Browse is part of Google's continued integration of AI features into Chrome. Last year, Google dropped the "Gemini in Chrome" mode to answer questions about what's on web pages and synthesize details from multiple open tabs. Auto Browse, which users can access by launching the Gemini sidebar in Chrome, will only be available today in the US to subscribers of Google's monthly AI Pro and AI Ultra plans. It's unclear when Auto Browse will become available to nonpaying users and additional countries. Google's rollout squares with Silicon Valley's vision for the future of web browsing, which includes a whole lot more AI and a whole lot less of you. Whether it's a browser designed from inception around generative AI, like OpenAI's Atlas, or one that's been retrofitted with new AI-based tools, like Google's Chrome, almost every option available to consumers now has some level of baked-in AI. (The Vivaldi browser is a notable exception for users who want to avoid AI-powered web browsing.) In a prelaunch demo, Charmaine D'Silva, a director of product management for Chrome, showed me an example of Auto Browse helping her shop online. "Instead of having to remember where I bought something and try to reorder something," she said, "I can now delegate to Auto Browse within Gemini to be able to go ahead and buy jackets for me." By typing a message to the Gemini sidebar in Chrome, D'Silva requested the bot reorder a jacket she bought last year, and to find a discount coupon code before making the purchase. When initiated, Auto Browse takes over Chrome and makes ghostly clicks in its own tab while it attempts to complete the given task. "Use Gemini carefully and take control if needed," reads a disclaimer on the demo version. "You are responsible for Gemini's actions during tasks." Even though you're sending it off into the digital wilderness, Google still sees you as responsible for what its bot does online while following your requests. For now, the automation only goes so far. Tasks that are deemed by Google to be more sensitive, like posting on social media and swiping your credit card, still require a bit of user oversight. In these situations, the Chrome bot will lay out the steps it took to get that far in and ask the user if they would like to proceed. Anyone interested in experimenting with Auto Browse should strongly consider the security implications of this kind of automation. Despite Google's efforts to make it safer to use, Auto Browse and similar AI-based tools are still at risk of being deceived by prompt injection attacks when visiting malicious websites, which trick the bot into acting in ways that the initial user did not intend. I'll be testing Auto Browse this week to get a sense of its initial strengths, weaknesses, and what the tool actually means for average Chrome users. Generally, I'm skeptical about agentic AI tools designed to make your life more efficient and sweep up all your digital chores. The bots are almost always overhyped, and I've found them to be consistently unreliable. Still, Google is insistent on realigning the web browsing experience around AI. Given Google's track record for pushing out new features gradually, you should expect Auto Browse to roll out more widely in the near future.

Google Gives Chrome an AI Side Panel and Lets Gemini Browse for You

Macy has been working for CNET for coming on 2 years. Prior to CNET, Macy received a North Carolina College Media Association award in sports writing. Google is turning Chrome into something closer to a digital copilot. In the next wave of Gemini updates rolling out, Google on Wednesday revealed a set of new AI-powered features coming directly to its browser, aimed at reducing the frustrations of exploring the internet each day. Built on Gemini 3, the updates introduce an always-available side panel, deeper app integrations, creative image tools and a new browser agent called auto browse that can complete multistep tasks on your behalf. Essentially, Google wants Chrome to be like an AI wingman that browses, compares and multitasks for you. Now you can automate browsing To me, the standout new addition is auto browse, a browser agent designed to handle tedious and time-consuming chores. Instead of hopping between tabs, filling out forms or manually comparing prices of things like products or flights, you can ask Chrome to do the legwork. Auto browse can research flights and hotels across different dates, collect documents, schedule appointments, manage subscriptions and help with tasks like renewing a driver's license or filing expense reports. In a live demo, product lead Charmaine D'Silva used the new tools to plan a family vacation. Gemini compared destinations and prices across multiple travel sites, checked school calendars to see when her kids were off and lined up schedules to find workable travel windows. When it came time to book, though, D'Silva emphasized that the final decision and purchase were still hers, underscoring Google's plan to keep humans in control for key tasks like booking and purchases. The feature is rolling out to AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the US now, signaling Google's broader push toward more agentic AI experiences. A new side panel experience Another update rolling out now is a redesigned Gemini side panel in Chrome, available across MacOS, Windows and Chromebook Plus. Instead of opening a separate tab, Gemini now lives alongside whatever you're working on, making it easier to multitask without breaking your flow. Testers have used it to summarize reviews across sites, compare shopping options and juggle packed calendars while keeping their main task front and center. Don't miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source. AI image editing with Nano Banana Chrome is also trying to become more creative. Google is bringing Nano Banana, its AI image editing and generation tool, directly into the browser. You can now edit and reimagine images you find on the web without downloading files or switching apps -- whether that's mocking up a living room redesign or turning raw data into an infographic at work. Chrome connects with other Google apps Under the hood, Gemini in Chrome is becoming more connected to the rest of Google's ecosystem. Integrations with Gmail, Calendar, Maps, YouTube, Google Flights and Shopping will allow the assistant to pull in relevant context and take action across apps. Planning a trip, for example, could involve referencing an old email, checking flight options and drafting a follow-up email to your travel companions. Now all in one place. More to come Looking ahead, Google says personal intelligence is coming to Chrome in the coming months. With user opt-in, Gemini will remember context from past interactions to deliver more tailored, proactive help across the web, while giving you control over what data is connected and when.

Your Google Chrome browser just got a useful autopilot feature - here's how it works

Google's new Auto Browse feature aims to handle your digital chores by taking actions on your behalf. Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways * Google Chrome is being upgraded with Gemini 3 and a revamped sidepanel UX. * The new Auto Browse feature can navigate webpages and take actions on your behalf. * Auto Browse launches January 28th for AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers. Google just announced several updates to its Chrome browser, centered on -- you guessed it -- AI. With Gemini 3, its latest model, the updates aim to "put Gemini to work in Chrome" with personal assistant-style intelligence, tab organization, and the new "Auto Browse" feature, which takes actions on your behalf in Chrome. Available now for AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers, Auto Browse is a bit like autopilot for the web, designed to handle digital chores like filling out forms or making routine purchases. "We live our lives on the web," Parisa Tabriz, Google's VP of Chrome, said in a recent press conference. Auto Browse's focus, then, is on mundane, repetitive tasks; the "digital laundry", so to speak. Also: Google's Gemini 3 is finally here and it's smarter, faster, and free to access During the press conference, Tabriz showed off new features in a few common use cases like shopping and summarizing information, but the interesting stuff was when Gemini was asked to perform more complex tasks, like managing favorited apartments on Redfin, or shopping on Etsy based on an image -- all the way to inputting credit card info and finalizing the purchase. Chrome's latest version upgrades Gemini from the small textbox in the upper right corner to a large pane in the browser window -- taking up a full quarter of the screen. You add the browser tabs you want help with, giving Gemini permission to see their content and subsequently take actions in the browser. One key example showed the user sharing multiple tabs with Gemini and telling the AI to source information across them to fill out a registration form. Also: I tried Gmail's new Gemini AI features, and now I want to unsubscribe It goes beyond text inputs, though. A more complex example showed the user telling Gemini to go through all their favorited apartments on Redfin and remove any that aren't designated as pet-friendly. In another example, the user showed Gemini a photo of a party, and instructed the AI to go to Etsy and buy all the decorations found in the image. Sure enough, the AI navigates to the website and starts searching for specific items it identifies in the image, adding its finds to the cart. To enable these kinds of shopping tasks, Chrome will now support Google's Universal Commerce Protocol, an open standard for commerce and agentic AI, co-developed alongside major retailers such as Etsy, Target, Shopify, and Wayfair. Watching it in real time is a little bit like watching someone sharing their screen on Zoom. Gemini navigates to different fields, enters text, and narrates what it's doing at each step. Through it all, there's a "Pause" button at the top of the screen that allows you to take over the task at any time. Also: The two fastest growing AI chatbots now (neither is ChatGPT) If watching Gemini add item after item to your cart and then check out with your credit card isn't scary enough, Google says there are built-in safety measures that require the user to confirm before the transaction proceeds. Making purchases is one of them. If it reaches this point, Gemini will prompt you in the browser to approve continuing. To aid in these hyper-personalized capabilities, Google's new Personal Intelligence feature, introduced in January but rolling out in Chrome in the coming months, aims to securely connect information across your Google apps, including Gmail, Drive, Google Photos, and YouTube, for more specific inquiries. Essentially, Personal Intelligence adds all of your Google data to the Gemini pot, allowing the AI a more comprehensive picture of your digital identity. This feature is disabled by default, so if you do want to give Gemini access to these things, you'll have to toggle it on. Still, Google says Personal Intelligence is programmed to avoid making assumptions about sensitive topics, like health or finances. Siccing Gemini on your ever-growing mound of digital chores sounds great, but the problem with Gemini, and AI in general, is that it still isn't completely reliable. It's very good at a select group of actions, but other, seemingly simple actions elude the AI's capabilities. Also: Gemini is gaining fast on ChatGPT in one particular way, according to new data For example, Gemini still struggles to generate a document in Sheets from natural-language parameters. It can certainly provide a starting point that can become a finished product with manual tinkering, but specific natural-language commands like "change the date format in column E to read mm/dd/yy" still elude the AI, often with bizarre, unpredictable results. Ultimately, agentic AI in the browser definitely has a place in the future of how we use the internet, and while this idea of handling mundane tasks has a lot of potential, privacy and accuracy remain top of mind. For now, its launch is limited to AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers, with no set date for general availability. Although this isn't explicitly a "beta", Google is right to ease into these Gemini features, since the everyday user will need some time with Gemini to trust it with their credit card.

Google adds Gemini AI-powered 'auto browse' to Chrome

Google is launching a new "auto browse" feature inside Chrome that can perform multi-step tasks on your behalf. The Gemini AI-powered capability is coming to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the US, and can do things like research hotel and flight costs, schedule appointments, fill out online forms, manage subscriptions, and more. The update marks another expansion for Gemini in Chrome, which initially served as an AI assistant that you can use to ask questions or summarize content on the webpage you're reading. Google later added the ability for Gemini to compare products across multiple tabs and recall pages from your browsing history, while hinting at allowing the AI agent to perform "tedious tasks." Google says that while using auto browse, Gemini can identify decorations inside of a photo you're looking at, find similar items on the web, add them to your cart, apply discount codes, all while staying within your budget. If a task requires you to log into an account, Gemini can also use the browser's password manager to log in. Along with this change, Google has moved Gemini in Chrome from a pop-up window to a panel anchored to the right side of your screen. It now supports integrations with Gmail, Calendar, Maps, Google Shopping, and Google Flights for all users, allowing it to reference information from across the apps you use, as well as perform actions within them. "For example, if you're traveling to a conference and need to book a flight, Gemini can dig up that old email with event details, reference context from Google Flights to provide some recommendations, and later draft an email letting your colleagues know your arrival time," Google writes. You'll also find Nano Banana -- Google's AI-powered image generator -- in the new Gemini in Chrome panel. This feature is coming to all Gemini in Chrome users, and lets you edit an image inside your window using a text prompt. Google has more in store down the road for Gemini in Chrome as it competes with other agentic AI browsers, including OpenAI's Atlas and Perplexity's Comet. Personal intelligence, an opt-in feature that first launched inside the Gemini app, gives Gemini the ability to reference your past conversations, as well as use its reasoning capabilities to analyze the data linked to your Gmail, Calendar, Photos, and search history. Google says it plans on bringing the feature to Chrome in the "coming months."

Ready for Gemini to Take Over? Google Previews 'Auto Browse' Mode for Chrome

Google is offering its own take on AI browsers with an "auto browse" mode for Chrome that can automatically complete tasks for you like buying things online or scheduling an appointment. Rivals such as Microsoft, OpenAI, and Perplexity offer similar "agentic" AI modes that can take over the browser and automatically get to work. Google has already been integrating its Gemini assistant into Chrome; it even embedded a dedicated button for the chatbot. Now the company wants the AI to handle complex, multi-step workflows. "Our testers have used it for all sorts of things: scheduling appointments, filling out tedious online forms, collecting their tax documents, getting quotes for plumbers and electricians, checking if their bills are paid, filing expense reports, managing their subscriptions, and speeding up renewing their driving licenses -- a ton of time saved," Google says in a blog post. The company posted a demo in which a user activates auto browse mode by asking Gemini to buy decorations from Etsy to match an image from their Gmail inbox. The AI navigates to Etsy through the browser and successfully adds the items to the user's cart. The AI is even able to personalize one of decorations by adding the text "Y2K Party," before offering the user a summary of the listed items and telling them they can complete the checkout process. In another demo, auto browse mode is able to take data from a document and use it to fill out an online form. That said, auto browse mode isn't perfect. Google also demoed the feature to journalists by asking the feature to navigate to a website and re-order a previously purchased jacket in the same size and to look for potential discounts. The AI first asked permission to access the user's login information saved in Chrome. But the AI seemed to be slow in processing the full request, an issue we've encountered with other AI browser integrations. For sensitive functions, such as completing a purchase or posting on social media, the auto browse has been designed to hand over the final step to the user. It's a trade-off that can prevent errors, but also undercut the convenience factor. We'll have to try it ourselves. But we hope it's an improvement over Project Mariner, Google's experimental AI browser. In our testing last year, Mariner sometimes struggled to understand commands or successfully interact with third-party sites or overcome CAPTCHA pages. For now, Google is merely "previewing" the auto browse mode for Chrome. It will be available first in the US to paid subscribers of Google AI Pro and Ultra, which cost $20 and $250 per month, respectively. The other catch is how auto browse mode features a cap on the number of user requests per day. Pro subscribers can complete 20 requests while Ultra offers 200. Users can run multiple tasks at the same time. The company is likely holding off on a mainstream release to work on potential kinks. A major concern facing AI browser is how they can hallucinate the wrong information and fall for "prompt injection attacks," which can trick the AI into performing a malicious action. However, Google has already been working on "layered defenses" to guard against such threats. Although it remains unclear if or when auto browse mode will arrive to free users, Google is laying the groundwork for the feature and Gemini to be able to connect with third-party platforms. The company noted Chrome "will support Google's Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), a new open standard for agentic commerce co-developed with industry leaders including Etsy, Shopify, Target, and Wayfair. This new open standard ensures that AI agents can understand and interact with different websites seamlessly."

Chrome is also turning into an agentic browser with its newest update

The inevitable has officially happened: Chrome, too, is stepping into the world of agentic AI. While there's a lot of variety in AI software, all the big browser companies have recently focused on agentic browsing -- each taking its own approach. Companies like Opera launched entirely new browsers built with AI at their core. Others, like Microsoft, introduced AI modes within their existing browsers instead of creating full-fledged new ones. Interestingly, some of the biggest hits have come from non-browser companies, like Perplexity launching Comet and OpenAI launching ChatGPT Atlas. Nonetheless, what's truly striking is that arguably the biggest player in the browser space, Google Chrome, has only now taken its first real step into agentic AI. I tried Perplexity's new browser and returned to Chrome in no time Why do browsers have to be so extra? Posts 19 By Sumukh Rao Chrome's Auto Browse feature lets it handle tasks for you Today, Google announced a range of updates to Gemini in Chrome via a post on its The Keyword blog. Leading the pack is the most exciting update: Auto Browse. Described as "a powerful agentic experience that handles multi-step chores on your behalf," it essentially lets the browser act like a personal assistant by actually performing tasks for you rather than just explaining how you can perform said task. The company explains that testers have used Auto Browse for all sorts of tasks like filling out online forms, scheduling appointments, filling reports, managing subscriptions, and more. The feature is powered by Gemini 3.0 and can also leverage its multimodal capabilities to understand and interpret images. This means you can also outsource tasks like finding specific items online based on an image and adding them to your cart once found! This isn't any different from the agentic browsing instances we've seen in browsers like Opera's Neon, Perplexity's Comet, and ChatGPT Atlas. However, as someone who has been testing all of these browsers, I do believe Google's take on it will be a lot more polished, thanks to Gemini 3. Chrome Auto Browse is available for AI Pro and Ultra subscribers within the United States starting today. Google Chrome is also getting the same interface we've seen in other AI browsers, featuring a new Gemini side panel. This effectively means you no longer need to have Gemini or any other chatbot open in a separate tab, and can instantly access AI assistance right alongside whatever you're working on. Although Google did add Gemini to Chrome in September 2025, the chatbot was in a floating window. With it now available in a persistent sidebar (which you can toggle on and off), you can also query your open tabs, allowing you to outsource tasks like comparing products across multiple tabs. Nano Banana now works directly in Chrome Google's image model, Nano Banana, is also available directly in Chrome. This means you no longer need to go through the hassle of downloading an image, opening a new tab, and uploading it to Gemini. Now, you can simply type a prompt in the new side panel, explain what you'd like to do, and the edited image will be displayed right within the sidebar. Subscribe to our newsletter for browser AI coverage Get focused context from our newsletter with expert coverage of agentic browser AI, clarifying feature changes, practical implications, and comparisons across Chrome, Gemini, and rival offerings so you stay informed. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Google recently announced Personal Intelligence within Gemini, which lets it pull context from other Google apps like Gmail, Photos, Calendar, and more, and use it along with your chats and history to give you better responses. In the announcement today, Google explains that it'll be bringing Personal Intelligence to Chrome in the coming months, too. Google just turned Gemini into a free SAT prep tool SAT prep just got a lot easier (and cheaper). Posts By Mahnoor Faisal This will be a completely optional feature, and you'll remain fully in control. You can choose whether to connect your apps, and you can disconnect them at any time. Once enabled, Personal Intelligence will allow Gemini to provide more contextually relevant answers. Google claims that Gemini in Chrome has been built with "rigorous security standards," and the company has introduced "entirely new defenses to help protect [users] from new types of online threats."

Google adds AI image generation to Chrome browser, side panel option for virtual assistant

Google is empowering its Chrome browser with the ability to alter imagery and a virtual assistant to help with online tasks as part of its push to turbocharge its digital services with more artificial intelligence technology. The features rolling out include making Google's AI image generator and editing tool, Nano Banana, available to Chrome's logged-in users on desktop computers in the United States. The expanded access to Nano Banana through the leading web browser may further blur the lines between real-life pictures and fabricated images. The browser's expansion will also offer an option for Chrome's U.S. users to open a side panel so an AI-powered assistant can help with an assortment of chores while a user remains engaged with other online tasks. Subscribers to Google's AI Pro and Ultra services will also be able to activate an "auto browse" function that will log into websites, shop for merchandise on command and prepare posts on social media. Users will still have to manually complete purchases from the shopping carts prepared by AI and approve drafted social media posts. The AI in Chrome relies on the Gemini 3 model that Google released late last year and is now being baked into many of the services that helped its corporate parent, Alphabet, recently surpass a market value of $4 trillion. Earlier this month, Google tapped into Gemini to bring more AI features to Gmail as part of an effort to make that service behave more like a personal assistant and then funneled more of the technology into its search engine. in hopes of providing more relevant answers tailored to users' individual tastes and habits. The upgrades to Google's search engine plug into the company's "Personal Intelligence" technology that leverages AI to learn more about people's lives. Google is promising to roll out a Personal Intelligence option in Chrome at some point later this year. Chrome's AI makeover is rolling out just a few months after a federal judge rejected the U.S. Department of Justice's push to force Google to sell the browser as part of the penalty for running an illegal monopoly in search. The judge rebuffed the proposed breakup partly because he believes AI already is reshaping the competitive landscape as smaller rivals such as OpenAI and Perplexity deploy the technology in chatbots and their own web browsers. Before releasing its AI browser Atlas last October, OpenAI had expressed interest in buying Chrome if the breakup had been ordered. Perplexity, which offers an AI browser called Comet, even submitted a $34.5 billion bid for Chrome before the judge opted against a sale mandate.

Google brings its Nano Banana image generator to Chrome

Following its recent AI makeover of Gmail, Google is bringing more Gemini-powered tools to Chrome. Starting today, a host of new features are rolling out for the browser, with more to come over the next few months. The first of the new features is a sidebar. Available to all Gemini in Chrome users, the interface allows you to chat with Gemini and keep a conversation going across multiple tabs. Google suggests the sidebar is useful for multitaskers. "Our testers have been using it for all sorts of things: comparing options across too-many-tabs, summarizing product reviews across different sites, and helping find time for events in even the most chaotic of calendars," the company writes. The sidebar is also where you access the second new feature Google is adding to Chrome. Following its successful rollout within the Gemini app, Nano Banana, Google's in-house image generator, is available directly inside of the browser. With the addition, you won't need to open a new tab when you want Gemini to make you an AI image. You also won't need to download and upload a file when you want Gemini to edit an existing image for you. Instead, you can complete both of those tasks from any of your open tabs, thanks to the new sidebar. Looking forward, Google plans to bring Personal Intelligence, which debuted inside of the Gemini app at the start of January, to Chrome in the coming months. Once the feature arrives, it will allow the browser to remember past conversations you've had with Gemini. In turn, Google says this will lead to a more personalized Chrome. "Personal Intelligence in Chrome transforms the browsing experience from a general purpose tool into a trusted partner that understands you and provides relevant, proactive, and context-aware assistance," the company said. In the meantime, Gemini in Chrome already supports Google's Connected Apps feature, which allows the assistant to pull information from the company's other services, including Gmail and Calendar. During a press briefing, a Google employee demoed this feature by asking Gemini to pull up the dates of when their children would be on March break. Without telling the assistant where to look, Gemini sourced the correct time frame from the employee's email inbox. Last but not least, Google is previewing a new auto browse feature inside of Chrome. In the demo the company showed, an employee asked Gemini to find and buy them the same winter jacket they bought a few seasons ago. The assistant first drafted a plan outlining how best to tackle the request. It reasoned the best place to start was with a search of the employee's email inbox to determine the correct model and size of jacket. It then went shopping. While Gemini was working on this task, the employee was free to continue browsing in Chrome. At several points in the process, the assistant would stop before continuing to obtain the employee's permission to move forward. For instance, it paused when it needed login credentials, and again when it needed a credit card number to complete the purchase. Judging from the demo, it will probably take you less time to do your online shopping and other browser tasks on your own. Google suggests the feature will appeal to those who are creatures of habit. Say you often order the same produce from a grocery delivery service every week, Gemini can automate the ordering. Plus, the feature is in preview, so early testers probably won't be too put off by Gemini's slow pace. In any case, Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the US can try auto browse starting today.

Google brings more Gemini AI features to Chrome browser

Google on Wednesday announced that it is bringing more of its Gemini AI features to its Chrome browser, the latest in the company's efforts to put its new-age tech front and center for users. The Gemini-powered features include the image generation tool Nano Banana, Google's "Personal Intelligence" feature and "Auto browse," an agentic AI tool that lets users command the browser to perform various tasks across the web with a single prompt. Google is also introducing a new Chrome design that includes a panel on the right side of the browser that keeps the Gemini chatbot available as users surf the web. Wednesday's announcements mark the latest steps taken by Google to retrofit its browser with AI features. That's key for the company as it competes against the likes of ChatGPT maker OpenAI and Claude developer Anthropic as browsers are the primary entry point for users to interact with AI services. Additionally, the new features show how Google is trying to make its Chrome browser more personalized for users. Earlier this month, Google launched the personalized feature "Personal Intelligence" in the Gemini app. The feature connects information from apps like Gmail and Google Photos to provide users personalized answers in the Gemini chatbot. "Chrome will remember context from past conversations so you get uniquely tailored answers to whatever you're looking for across the web and you can already add specific instructions to Gemini to get more tailored responses," wrote Parisa Tabriz, Chrome vice president, in a blog. The updates also show the company is trying to realize Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis's vision for building out a "universal assistant," which he has defined as a helper that can plan and take actions on a user's behalf across any device.

Google Unleashes AI in Chrome with 'Auto Browse'

Last year, Google fueled up its Chrome browser with its Gemini AI model. Now it's pressing on the gas. In what the company is calling a "new era of browsing," Google is introducing a slew of new features that further embeds its Gemini 3 model into its browser, now with a side panel capable of multitasking, integration with Google Apps, and a feature called "auto browse" that can navigate the web on a user's command. Google's preferred headliner for the announcement is its new side panel, which keeps Gemini on screen as a browsing assistant across tabs. The company said that users would be able to perform separate tasks in the sidebar while keeping the browser tab open to their primary focus. In a demonstration for the press, Google's Vice President of Chrome, Parisa Tabriz, described the use of the sidebar. "I can have my assistant side-by-side with the content I see in my screen," she said. "But most importantly, I can actually go ahead and start a completely new conversation on a different tab if I wanted to." Per Google, the feature opens up new ways to multitask directly in the browser. "Our testers have been using it for all sorts of things: comparing options across too-many-tabs, summarizing product reviews across different sites, and helping find time for events in even the most chaotic of calendars," the company said in a blog post. Part of that expanded multitasking includes working across the Google suite. The Gemini assistant in Chrome can connect to Gmail, Calendar, YouTube, Maps, Google Shopping, and Google Flights, and can complete tasks within these services. "For example, if you're traveling to a conference and need to book a flight, Gemini can dig up that old email with event details, reference context from Google Flights to provide some recommendations, and later draft an email letting your colleagues know your arrival time." In a demonstration, Tabriz explained users would be able to compose an email in Gemini and hit send without needing to leave the sidebar. According to Google, users will be able to enable access to any of the Google apps in the Connected Apps section of Gemini Settings. Google has also brought along its image generation tool Nano Banana, which can now "transform images" in the browser without requiring the user to download the image. Users can give Gemini a prompt in the side panel, and it can modify the image directly in the browser. Perhaps the most intriguing upgrade that Google announced is locked behind a paywall. Google AI Pro and Google AI Ultra subscribers will be able to use what the company is calling Auto Browse. It's positioning it as a more powerful version of autofill, but it's not exactly a clean analogy. Auto Browse is an agentic feature that allows users to give Gemini a multi-step task to complete on their behalf, all within the browser, across different tabs and services. "Auto Browse actually moves from just being able to give the information to you to actually really taking control of your browser and doing things completely on your behalf," Tabriz said. In a demonstration, she gave Gemini a prompt to re-order the same jacket that she had purchased a year prior. Gemini opened a new tab and began carrying out the task, navigating to the correct company website, logging into Tabriz's account, scanning through previous orders until it found one that was referenced in the prompt, and beginning the process of re-ordering. Tabriz said Gemini would take the task as far as it could and would prompt the user any time it runs into a hurdle. It'll also stop before finishing the transaction, requiring the user to confirm before making a purchase. Per Google, the feature will have support for Etsy, Shopify, Target, and Wayfair, so Chrome can shop across those platforms. Google also suggested the feature could be used for the "mundane work" of doing things like researching hotel and flight costs across multiple date options for a vacation, among other tasks. "Our testers have used it for all sorts of things: scheduling appointments, filling out tedious online forms, collecting their tax documents, getting quotes for plumbers and electricians, checking if their bills are paid, filing expense reports, managing their subscriptions, and speeding up renewing their driving licenses -- a ton of time saved," it said. Earlier this month, Google announced "Personal Intelligence" in Gemini, which can pull from just about anything you've done across the Google ecosystem, including Gmail, Google Calendar, the content in your Google Drive and Google Photos, and things like your YouTube watch history, Google Search history. The company said in the coming months, it'll bring Personal Intelligence to Chrome, as well. Additionally, Chrome will be able to remember past conversations. The feature will be opt-in and will allow users to choose which apps they would like to be included in Chrome's Personal Intelligence. According to Tabriz, Gemini will work locally on a user's device, but will send data back to the cloud. Features like the new side panel and Nano Banana integration will be available to Chrome users starting today. Auto Browse will also be available today for AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers. Personal Intelligence will be available in "the coming months."

Chrome's latest feature lets you put your web browsing on autopilot

Chrome auto browse is available as a preview starting today for AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the US. Chrome's autofill feature has been helping users save time when filling out forms since its introduction in 2010. Now Google is aiming to do something similar with navigating the web in general. Today, Google announced that it's rolling out a new agentic browsing experience called Chrome auto browse. Built natively into the Chrome browser, it's a cloud-based feature you can activate by clicking on the Gemini icon at the top of the window. As Google explains, Chrome auto browse relies on the multimodal capabilities of Gemini 3 to browse the web on your behalf. All you have to do is type in what you want Gemini to do for you, and the AI will take over. For example, you could tell Gemini to look through your favorite apartments on an apartment hunting website and remove any listings that aren't pet-friendly. Once you hit enter, the AI will kick into action. It will navigate to the apartment hunting website for you and carry out your instructions. Auto-browse can accomplish more complex feats as well. One example Google offers is planning a Y2K-themed party. If you got your inspiration from a photo that perfectly captures that era, auto browse can identify what's in that picture, search for similar items, and put them into your cart. Google claims that the AI can do all of this while staying in your budget and automatically applying discount codes. It's worth noting that auto browse won't do everything for you. As a form of security and control, Google says auto browse will require your interaction for certain tasks. For example, it will ask you for confirmation before making a purchase. Or if you told Gemini to write a social media post, you'll have to be the one who hits send. It will also request access to your saved credentials in Google Password Manager if it needs to log into one of your accounts to complete a task. According to Google, it built auto browse with the intention of allowing users to offload the logistics of navigating the web so they can stay focused on what matters most. It remains to be seen whether users will take a shine to this feature or if they'll prefer to navigate the web traditionally. If you're interested in trying it out, auto browse is rolling out as a preview starting today. However, you'll need to be a Google AI Pro or AI Ultra subscriber in the US to access the feature.

Google just gave Chrome an autopilot mode that does the clicking for you

Karandeep Singh Oberoi is a Durham College Journalism and Mass Media graduate who joined the Android Police team in April 2024, after serving as a full-time News Writer at Canadian publication MobileSyrup. Prior to joining Android Police, Oberoi worked on feature stories, reviews, evergreen articles, and focused on 'how-to' resources. Additionally, he informed readers about the latest deals and discounts with quick hit pieces and buyer's guides for all occasions. Oberoi lives in Toronto, Canada. When not working on a new story, he likes to hit the gym, play soccer (although he keeps calling it football for some reason🤔) and try out new restaurants in the Greater Toronto Area. Google announced a trove of AI upgrades for Google Chrome today, bringing fancy new features like a Gemini side panel and direct Nano Banana integration. However, none of those are truly headline-level features, at least not like 'Auto Browse.' 8 Chrome features that can supercharge your browsing without extra extensions You're using Chrome wrong, and these features prove it Posts By Ben Khalesi Google's AI ambitions have been on full display over the last two years, with Chrome being one of the key missing pieces that wasn't all-out AI. The Mountain View, California-based tech giant gave the browser some Gemini love last year, but it's only now attempting to turn Chrome into a proactive agent that not only helps you with tasks, but does them for you. Powered by Gemini 3, Google is rolling out 'Auto Browse,' which, as its name suggests, is a feature that can take browsing action for you. The feature is triggered via the new Gemini side panel, which means its availability is severely limited, at least for now. However, for those eligible, Auto Browse is a lifesaver for mundane, repetitive, and boring workflows. Auto Browse shines when researching hotels and/or flight costs across multiple date options, or "scheduling appointments, filling out tedious online forms, collecting their tax documents, getting quotes for plumbers and electricians, checking if their bills are paid, filing expense reports, managing their subscriptions, and speeding up renewing their driving licenses." As seen in the short GIF above, the feature can easily fill out forms too. In the example, a user has to fill out a tournament registration form. They use a team roster sheet, feed it into the Gemini side panel, and ask it to fill out the registration form. The tool can complete slightly more 'complicated' tasks as well. You should be able to show the Gemini side panel a generic image of a party photo booth, and ask it to head to platforms like Etsy to find supplies to recreate the booth. Additional instructions like "add them to my cart," and "don't spend more than $75," can also be given, as seen in the short GIF above. Subscribe to the newsletter for Chrome AI coverage Explore Chrome's Auto Browse and Gemini-powered features in our newsletter, detailed coverage, clear eligibility breakdowns, step-by-step usage guides, and thoughtful analysis of how these AI tools change browsing. Subscribe for focused coverage and insights. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Tabs that are currently being 'auto browsed' appear with a blue highlight, complete with a "Take over task" pill at the very top. Auto Browse is now rolling out to Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in the US. Considering that it requires the side panel for requests, only users eligible to use the side panel will be able to access Auto Browse. Requirements include: * Being over 18 and in the US. * Using a Mac or Windows computer or an iPhone or an iPad. * Using the latest version of Chrome. * Being signed in to Chrome.

More bloatware is coming to Google Chrome

Every web browser is being loaded up with generative AI features, whether you like it or not. Now, Chrome is getting more Gemini integrations, the Nano Banana AI image generator, and an 'Auto Browse' mode comparable to ChatGPT Atlas. Google announced some AI features for Chrome last year, and now several of them are rolling out. First, the browser is getting a Gemini side panel, accessible from the button at the top-right corner of the window. When you open it, you get a chat window on the right side of your current window that works like the existing Gemini web app. It supports Connected Apps, so you can ask questions connected to your activity in Gmail, Calendar, YouTube, and other Google services. The Nano Banana AI image generator is also coming to Chrome. The feature is accessible in the sidebar, "allowing you to transform images on the fly without needing to download and re-upload images or open another tab." It sounds like it's just a component of the Gemini sidebar, rather than its own discrete sidebar mode, but Google didn't clarify that detail before publication. Finally, the agentic browsing capabilities that Google revealed last year is now rolling out as 'Auto Browse' mode. The idea is that you can ask Gemini to complete a task that requires using websites, like adding items to a shopping cart or comparing ticket prices, and the AI will take over your Chrome tab to complete the task. There have been many demonstrations of these AI web browsing features not working correctly, and they are theoretically vulnerable to prompt injection. Google said it tested Auto Browse with "rigorous security standards," and unlike some other AI browsers, it will ask for confirmation before "some tasks like making a purchase or posting on social media." I need to zoom out for a second and ask an important question: why is there an AI image generator in my web browser? This was the type of bloatware that was a frequent point of criticism for Microsoft Edge, and now Google is doing the same thing. Sure, there are some people who want quick access to Gemini and Nano Banana, but those features should not be enabled by default. Google also rolled out Nano Banana to the Messages app on Android, and then dialed it back after many complaints. I'm also not thrilled about Gemini and other AI features creeping into the world's most popular web browser. Generative AI can never be fully accurate, and when it's not causing psychotic breakdowns, it's eroding critical thinking skills. The introduction of AI responses in Google web searches has already cut into the revenue of creators and publishers making the content that AI requires to function, and these Gemini integrations in Chrome (especially Auto Browse) are clearly designed to funnel more people away from traditional web searches. Not too long ago, Google's AI was telling people to eat glue and rocks, and now it's at the core of Chrome. Subscribe to the newsletter for browser AI insights Gain deeper context by subscribing to the newsletter, expert coverage and analysis of generative AI in browsers, what it means for search, creators, privacy, and the trade-offs consumers should understand before adopting new features. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. These features are rolling out in Chrome starting today. The Gemini side panel and Nano Banana integration will be available for free accounts, but Auto Browse requires a Google AI Pro or AI Ultra subscription.

Google Chrome wants to surf the web for you

Chrome will also integrate Nano Banana for direct image editing, though this raises potential copyright concerns for users. Google says that it's bringing a major change to Chrome users today: a mainstream agentic AI that will "autobrowse" the web for you, performing tasks that you assign it. Chrome's also getting a sidebar -- and yes, with Gemini AI. Autobrowsing capabilities will arrive today for Chrome users who subscribe to either Google AI Pro ($19.99 per month) or Google AI Ultra ($249.99 per month), while the Chrome sidebar will roll out today for all Chrome users. The move comes a day after Google announced the Google AI Plus plan for $7.99 per month, which will not have access to the autobrowse features. Essentially, Google sees the autobrowsing as the evolution of its autofill capabilities, which aren't unique to Chrome. Autofill stores details like your credit card and applies them when necessary, such as to complete a purchase. Autobrowsing simply takes a task and goes out and completes it to the best of Chrome's ability, leaving the final step -- a confirmation of purchase -- for you to approve. Agentic browsing is nothing new; Microsoft showed off an agentic shopping demonstration a year ago, as well as Copilot Mode for Edge last summer. OpenAI has done something similar with the Atlas agentic browser, and others have followed suit. Nevertheless, Statcounter reports that Chrome has about 65 percent of the desktop browser market share for North America, far and away the most dominant browser. Mainstreaming agentic actions, even for a paid subscription, is a significant move. You'll access auto browse the same way that you'll interact with Google's Gemini AI: as a browser sidebar, accessible by clicking the small Gemini icon at the top of the browser. That will open up the sidebar and a text box, and allow you to ask Gemini to start filling out tasks. Google said that auto browse tasks can include filling out PDFs, renewing drivers' licenses, but also researching trips and other tasks, including scheduling and booking reservations. However, executives said information "that's happening on the right-hand side is not shared back with the site." Google said that the new Gemini sidebar will tap what it's referred to as "personal intelligence," remembering past conversations and information you've shared with it, which is now included in AI Mode. If you've allowed Google access to apps like Gmail, this information will be used, too. An interesting addition will be support for Nano Banana, Google's image rendering algorithm. Nano Banana will be accessible by Chrome, so that it will be able to pull in and edit an image that you have in your browser -- not just one that you own. Google executives couldn't say whether there would be any copyright protections in place, or whether users would simply be able to tell the algorithm to edit the image. Yes, autobrowsing is reserved for paying subscribers -- for now. But it will likely move down to cheaper tiers over time, if it proves successful.

Chrome rolling out Gemini 3-powered 'auto browse' with Google AI Pro

Google today announced "Chrome auto browse" as a "powerful agentic experience that handles multi-step chores on your behalf." Available on desktop, auto browse is triggered by specifying a task when prompting Gemini in Chrome. Google can scroll, click, and enter text on your behalf. The actions are happening on your device with a cloud model leveraged. Gemini will then confirm "Task started" and proceed to open a new tab that's badged by a cursor and sparkle icon. Chrome will also note whenever auto browse is active in the top-right corner of your window next to the Gemini spark. The tab has a glow around it, while the new Gemini side panel interface shows step-by-step what it's doing. Auto browse can use Google Password Manager to auto-fill credentials, but you have to first authorize it. Similarly, Gemini requires you to actually press the buy button when shopping, or the post button if tasked with sharing something to social media. At any time in the process, you can "Take over task." You can continue to visit other sites as auto browse works in the background. ...let's say you're planning a Y2K theme party and find inspiration in a photo that perfectly captures that era. Auto browse, with the multimodal capabilities of Gemini 3, can identify what's in the picture, search for similar items and add them to your cart -- staying within budget and even applying discount codes. Prompt: "Go to Etsy and find supplies to recreate the Photo Booth and add them to my cart. Don't spend more than $75 total." Google touts other use cases like: scheduling appointments, filling out forms, collecting tax documents, getting quotes for plumbers and electricians, checking if bills are paid, filing expense reports, managing subscriptions, and renewing licenses. Prompt: "Using the information in our team roster register our team for this form and fill in their names and positions." After previewing last year, Chrome auto browse is rolling out starting today to AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in the US. There's a daily limit to how many agentic actions you can take. Prompt: "I want to travel to Chicago and stay at this hotel either July 3 to 5 or July 10 to 12. Can you check how much this hotel costs each of those weekends? and then check how much flights cost each weekend on Expedia? and tell me the cheapest weekend overall?"

Google is rolling out the biggest changes to Chrome in years -- here's what's new

From a permanent Gemini side panel to agent-style automation, here's what's new with Google's browser Chrome is getting a major overhaul as Google rolls out a new wave of Gemini-powered features designed to make the browser more proactive. Announced by Parisa Tabriz, VP of Chrome, the update brings deeper Gemini integration to Chrome on macOS, Windows and Chromebook Plus. Built on Google Gemini 3, the company's latest AI model, the changes are designed to help users multitask, summarize information and complete multi-step tasks directly inside the browser. Some features begin rolling out today (January 28), while others are already live or scheduled to arrive later this year. Gemini gets a permanent place in Chrome Starting today, Chrome users will see a new Gemini side panel, which keeps the AI assistant accessible no matter which tab is open. Instead of switching between windows or opening a separate chatbot, users can keep their main webpage in focus while Gemini works alongside it -- comparing products, summarizing reviews or pulling together information from multiple sites. Google says early testers have used the side panel to manage crowded calendars, research purchases and reduce tab overload. The side panel will be available to all Gemini-in-Chrome users. AI image editing comes directly to the browser Fans of image generation will appreciate this one. Chrome will now offer built-in access to Nano Banana, Google's image transformation tool. The feature allows users to modify, edit and generate images on the web using text prompts, without downloading files or opening another app. Google positions Nano Banana as useful for creative tasks like redesign inspiration or turning research data into visual summaries. The feature rolls out today and will be available to all Gemini-in-Chrome users. Chrome connects Gemini to Gmail, Calendar and more Some of Chrome's Gemini upgrades are already live. Since January 12, Connected Apps have allowed Gemini to pull context from Google services such as Gmail, Calendar, Maps, YouTube, Google Shopping and Google Flights. That means Gemini can reference old emails, check travel details or help draft messages without leaving Chrome. These integrations are optional and can be managed through Gemini's settings. Personal Intelligence is coming later this year In the coming months, Google plans to bring Personal Intelligence into Chrome -- a feature that allows Gemini to remember context from past interactions to deliver more tailored responses over time. Google says Personal Intelligence will be opt-in, with controls that let users decide which apps are connected and what context is stored. The goal is to make Chrome more proactive, though it also raises familiar questions around personalization and long-term data use. Auto browse introduces agentic browsing -- but only for paid users The most ambitious addition is Chrome auto browse, an AI agent designed to complete multi-step tasks on a user's behalf. The feature begins rolling out on January 28 to AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in the U.S. Auto browse can handle tasks like researching travel options, filling out online forms, gathering documents, managing subscriptions and comparing service quotes. It pauses to ask for confirmation before sensitive actions such as purchases or sign-ins. Google says the feature can also work with images -- identifying items in photos and searching for similar products online while staying within a set budget. To support this kind of agentic browsing, Chrome will also adopt Google's Universal Commerce Protocol, an open standard developed with companies including Etsy, Shopify, Target and Wayfair to help AI agents interact consistently with shopping sites. Google says Chrome's AI is built with new security layers Alongside the feature rollout, Google published a technical blog detailing how Chrome's security model is evolving for AI agents. The company identifies indirect prompt injection -- where malicious web content attempts to manipulate an AI agent -- as one of the biggest emerging risks. To counter that, Chrome now uses multiple layers of protection, including: * A separate user alignment critic model that checks whether an agent's actions match the user's intent * New origin restrictions that limit which sites an AI agent can read from or act on * Mandatory user confirmations for sensitive actions like payments or logins * Real-time detection of prompt-injection attempts and ongoing red-team testing Google says these measures are designed to prevent unwanted actions and data leaks while keeping users in control. Bottom line Together, these updates signal a clear shift in how Google sees the browser's role. Chrome is moving beyond displaying information toward actively helping users complete tasks -- a direction that mirrors broader industry moves toward agentic AI. For now, the most visible changes will be the Gemini side panel and image tools, while full agentic browsing remains limited to paid tiers. How useful -- or intrusive -- these features feel in everyday use may ultimately decide whether this new era of browsing sticks. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.

Chrome gets its biggest upgrade in years -- the new Gemini side panel puts AI agents, multitasking, and Nano Banana inside the browser

* The latest Google Chrome upgrade in the US adds a new a Side Panel that opens when you click the Gemini button * Nano Banana can now edit images directly inside Chrome browser tabs * A new agentic Auto Browse feature can handle multi-step web tasks in the background Google is transforming Chrome into an AI-first browser for US users. With a new Gemini side panel, built-in AI agents, and Nano Banana image editing, the latest update lets Chrome understand what you're doing across multiple tabs, and even complete tasks for you in the background, marking the biggest shift in years in how the browser works. Thanks to the recently announced Personal Intelligence feature, Gemini knows more about you than ever before, allowing it to be more helpful and contextually aware inside Chrome, too. Alongside this, a new Auto Browse feature can take care of multi-step tasks, like booking tickets or planning a holiday in the background while you continue browsing. Here's a closer look at the new features. Gemini Side Panel The most noticeable change in the new Chrome is the Gemini side panel, which is always accessible no matter which tab you're in. It isn't forced on you, though - you still need to activate it. To do that, simply click the Gemini icon in the top-right corner of Chrome and the side panel will appear, like this: Multitasking using the side panel works by keeping your main work open in the primary tab while handling a separate task in the side panel. This is ideal for comparing options across different tabs, summarizing product reviews from multiple sites, or finding time for events across chaotic calendars, all using natural language prompts in Gemini. Nano Banana image editing The upgraded Chrome also lets you use Google's Nano Banana image generator without going anywhere else. That means there's no longer any need to download images from web pages and then upload them to Gemini separately. If an image is open in a browser tab, you can now type a prompt in the side panel to alter it using Nano Banana. For example, if you find a living room design you like, you can ask Gemini to change the sofa or chairs - even referencing items open in another tab. Everything happens inside the side panel and is then available to download. Here's an example: Auto Browse Perhaps the most impressive new AI feature in Chrome is Auto Browse. This is essentially an AI agent that you can send off to complete multi-step, web-based tasks such as booking concert tickets or creating travel itineraries, while you get on with something else. Auto Browse is designed to quietly take care of online admin. Instead of bouncing between tabs, you can ask it to book appointments, gather tax documents, check whether bills have been paid, or manage subscriptions on your behalf. It can also handle more time-consuming chores, like collecting quotes from plumbers or electricians, filing expense reports, and speeding up tasks such as driver's license renewals. AI agents in browsers aren't new, Perplexity's Comet browser is a good example, but they fundamentally change how we use the web by saving time. One common obstacle is that many booking sites require logins. Chrome tackles this by using Chrome's Password Manager to log you in automatically. Auto Browse is designed to pause and explicitly ask for your confirmation or prompt you to complete some tasks like making a purchase or posting on social media. Auto Browse is currently rolling out in preview in the US for Google AI Pro and Google AI Ultra subscribers Here's an example of Auto Browse in action: Personal Intelligence and connected apps The new Chrome makes use of Google's recently announced Personal Intelligence feature, alongside Connected Apps. This pulls together information from across Google's ecosystem to add context and awareness to your requests. For example, if Personal Intelligence finds your child's school name in your Gmail, it can work out term dates, which is useful if you're browsing holidays in different tabs and ask, "Which one of these matches my kids' spring break?" Personal Intelligence also uses context from past conversations to deliver more personalized answers over time. The new browser also has new defences designed to protect you from the latest security threats. Using Connected Apps you can also ask Gemini to send an email using your Gmail. Here's how it works: Is this too much AI? By putting AI at the center of web browsing, the new Chrome feels like a natural evolution of Google's most popular browser. With Gemini's popularity rising relative to ChatGPT following the release of Nano Banana and Gemini 3, baking it directly into Chrome could give Google's chatbot another boost and make users less likely to look elsewhere for AI tools. Striking the balance between AI feeling stuffed unnecessarily into products and it being genuinely useful is always going to be tough call to make, but the fact that the new AI side panel only appears when you click the Gemini button in Chrome helps make it feel less intrusive. Gemini in Chrome remains a US-only feature for now, and the new features are rolling out today. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button! And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

Google just gave Chrome a massive AI overhaul

Karandeep Singh Oberoi is a Durham College Journalism and Mass Media graduate who joined the Android Police team in April 2024, after serving as a full-time News Writer at Canadian publication MobileSyrup. Prior to joining Android Police, Oberoi worked on feature stories, reviews, evergreen articles, and focused on 'how-to' resources. Additionally, he informed readers about the latest deals and discounts with quick hit pieces and buyer's guides for all occasions. Oberoi lives in Toronto, Canada. When not working on a new story, he likes to hit the gym, play soccer (although he keeps calling it football for some reason🤔) and try out new restaurants in the Greater Toronto Area. Google just announced a massive overhaul for Chrome on Windows, MacOS, and Chromebook Plus, and as you might have expected, it's got everything to do with Gemini. Powered by the tech giant's latest Gemini 3, Chrome is gaining new features (a dedicated side panel) to help you multitask across the web, deeper integration with other native Google apps, a new 'auto-browser' that lets Chrome automatically handle multistep workflows, and even the recently-announced Personal Intlligence feature to give you contextually and personally relevant answers. Google expands Gemini integration in Chrome New productivity and security tools Posts 1 By Chandra Steele A new side panel for Chrome Rolling out to all Gemini in Chrome users, the new side panel will allow users to have Gemini as an ever-present assistant for their browsing needs, "no matter what tab you're in." It's similar to Gmail/Drive's side panel, albeit with a browser-centric twist to it. Instead of summarizing emails and parsing through folders, the side panel can be used to compare options across tabs, allowing you to keep your primary work open on one tab while using the side panel to handle a different task. Our testers have been using it for all sorts of things: comparing options across too-many-tabs, summarizing product reviews across different sites, and helping find time for events in even the most chaotic of calendars. Although Google did not specify availability, it did say that the side panel is now rolling out to "all Gemini in Chrome users." This means that the side panel is currently likely limited to users that are: * Over 18 and in the US. * Using a Mac or Windows computer or an iPhone or an iPad. * Using the latest version of Chrome. * Signed in to Chrome. * Using Chrome in English (United States). Nano Banana is now integrated into Chrome Available via the side panel, users should now be able to edit and transform images on the fly without having to download/upload images. You simply describe the changes you want, like turning data from a tab into an infographic or an Android Police review into a carousel-type slideshow with key takeaways. Deeper integrations across connected apps Gemini in Chrome already supports connected apps, including integrations with Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Drive, Keep, and Tasks. That integration support is now expanding to YouTube, Maps, Google Shopping, and even Google Flights. These deeper integrations help you get things done, quickly. For example, if you're traveling to a conference and need to book a flight, Gemini can dig up that old email with event details, reference context from Google Flights to provide some recommendations, and later draft an email letting your colleagues know your arrival time. Gemini 3's Personal Intelligence is coming to Chrome Google says Gemini's Personal Intelligence is the context-aware AI you've been looking for Without the privacy nightmares Posts 1 By Karandeep Singh Oberoi Early in January, Google unveiled Personal Intelligence for Gemini, a feature that leverages data from your Gmail, Photos, Search, and even YouTube History to give you personally contextual replies. The feature expanded to Search's AI Mode last week, and now, it looks like it has its sight set on Chrome search in general. In the coming months, Personal Intelligence will allow Chrome to remember context from past conversations to provide proactive assistance. So, for example, if you've been planning a trip for weeks, Chrome will remember your preferences without you having to remind it every time you resume searching. Personal Intelligence in Chrome will operate on an opt-in basis. Your photos and emails can now influence your Google Search Get started in Google Labs Posts 1 By Karandeep Singh Oberoi Chrome's 'auto browse' can handle multi-step tasks in your stead Possibly the most surprising announcement of the bunch, Chrome is trying to help workflows with automatic action, and it's doing so with auto browse, "a powerful agentic experience that handles multi-step chores on your behalf." Subscribe to the newsletter for Chrome and Gemini insights Joining the newsletter gives clear, practical breakdowns of Chrome's Gemini-powered changes -- how the side panel, auto-browse, image tools, and Personal Intelligence work -- so you can apply them to your browsing workflows. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Auto browse will be triggered via the Gemini side panel, making it limited to AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the US, at least for now. As its name suggests, it does the browsing for you, which can be especially useful for repetitive and mundane tasks, like researching hotel and flight costs across multiple date options, or "scheduling appointments, filling out tedious online forms, collecting their tax documents, getting quotes for plumbers and electricians, checking if their bills are paid, filing expense reports, managing their subscriptions, and speeding up renewing their driving licenses." However, you can use the tool for more complicated things too. As seen in the short GIF below, you can show the Gemini side panel a generic image of a party photo booth, and ask it to head to platforms like Etsy to find supplies to recreate the booth. Additional instructions like "add them to my cart," and "don't spend more than $75," can also be given. If and when Chrome starts to auto-browse, the tabs that it is on will be highlighted in blue, complete with a chip at the top that lets you take back control over the task.

Chrome introduces AI-driven auto browse to handle multi-step online actions

We have all been there: it is late at night, you are trying to plan a vacation or find a specific pair of boots you saw on Instagram, and suddenly you realize you have forty-three tabs open in Chrome. Your laptop fan is screaming, you have lost track of which flight was the cheapest, and you are ready to give up. The modern web is incredible, but it is also a chaotic mess of friction, pop-ups, and endless comparison. Google knows this, and with their latest announcement, they are trying to fix it by fundamentally changing the way we surf the internet. Meet "Auto Browse," a new feature powered by Gemini 3 that promises to turn the web browser from a passive window into an active participant in your digital life. The end of "Tab Fatigue" Announced in their latest product blog, Auto Browse isn't just another chatbot that summarizes a Wikipedia article for you. We have seen plenty of those. This is different because it actually does things. Currently being tested in the desktop version of Chrome, this feature uses the Gemini sidebar to take over the heavy lifting of navigation. Recommended Videos Imagine you are trying to revamp your wardrobe. Instead of manually searching for "vintage denim jacket," clicking through five different retailers, filtering by size, and comparing shipping costs, you just upload a photo of a style you like. You tell Auto Browse, "Find me something like this under $50 that ships to my city." Then - and this is the cool part - the AI actually goes out and navigates the pages. It clicks the links. It reads the descriptions. It sifts through the options. It basically acts like a digital personal assistant, coming back to you with a curated list of options so you don't have to do the grunt work. This represents a massive shift in how we think about the internet. For the last twenty years, the relationship has been simple: we type a query, Google gives us a list of blue links, and we do the rest. Auto Browse tries to cut out the middleman. It is moving us away from "assistive" tools that just sit there and wait for input, toward "agentic" AI that can perform multi-step workflows on its own. Think about how much time students spend just gathering sources for a paper, or how long it takes to cross-reference specs when buying a new laptop. Auto Browse is designed to flatten that entire process into a single interaction. It consolidates the information gathering, the comparison, and the decision-making support into one fluid motion. But is it safe? Of course, the idea of an AI clicking around the internet on your behalf sounds a little bit terrifying. Google seems acutely aware of this. In their announcement, they emphasized that safety and user consent are baked into the core of the product. The AI isn't going to go rogue and max out your credit card; for significant actions, especially anything involving money or personal data, it has to ask for your permission. It is a delicate balancing act between the convenience of automation and the necessity of human control. Right now, Auto Browse is still in the testing phase, but the implications are huge. If this works as advertised, it could make the "10 blue links" search results page obsolete for complex tasks. It means spending less time fighting with user interfaces and more time actually getting things done. As Google refines this tech and eventually brings it to mobile, we are looking at a future where the browser isn't just a tool for viewing the web - it is an engine for interacting with it. Whether you are a bargain hunter, a researcher, or just someone who hates having too many tabs open, this is a glimpse into a much more streamlined, automated future for the internet. The days of "doomscrolling" through search results might finally be numbered.

The new era of browsing: Putting Gemini to work in Chrome

This content is generated by Google AI. Generative AI is experimental We're introducing major updates to Gemini in Chrome for MacOS, Windows and Chromebook Plus that help you get the most out of the web. Built on Gemini 3, our most intelligent model, we're integrating powerful new AI features in Chrome that help you multitask across the web with a new side panel experience. We're also bringing deeper integrations across our most popular Google Apps so you can be more productive, helping on complex multi-step workflows with auto browse and, in the coming months, you'll get more contextually relevant help with Personal Intelligence. The new Gemini in Chrome is like having an assistant that helps you find information and get things done on the web easier than ever before. Introducing a new way to browse with side panel: multitasking, reimagined We're launching a new side panel experience so Gemini in Chrome users can always have a browsing assistant at your side, no matter what tab you're in. This can help you save time and multitask without interruption. You can keep your primary work open on one tab while using the side panel to handle a different task. Our testers have been using it for all sorts of things: comparing options across too-many-tabs, summarizing product reviews across different sites, and helping find time for events in even the most chaotic of calendars.

Chrome Can Now Use AI to Browse the Internet for You

Paying subscribers can also use "Auto Browse" to direct the AI to take control of a tab and complete tasks for them. Have you ever wanted to browse the internet, but the thought of typing a URL into your address bar seemed just too exhausting? Now, Google's here to help. Today, the company announced a big expansion of its existing Gemini in Chrome feature, with the highlights including a new look for the AI companion, more-integrated image editing tools, and, perhaps most impressive (but also creepy), the launch of Auto Browse, which lets Gemini take the wheel when you're going online. The new side panel view Previously, Gemini in Chrome appeared in a small box on top of your browser, which made it a bit inconvenient to use, especially when bouncing between tabs. Google's update moves it to a scrollable side panel view that's a bit bigger, and it won't obscure any of your other content. Instead, it'll sit to the right of the webpage your viewing, so you can more easily compare whatever answers Gemini gives you with what you're seeing, or carry on a conversation while bouncing between multiple tabs. It will retain all the same functionality as before, including the ability to reference multiple open tabs in prompts. It's a small change, but should help for usability. Right-click any image to edit it in Nano Banana Google's Nano Banana image generation AI is having a bit of a moment, and the new Gemini in Chrome updates make it easier to use. Now, instead of having to download an image and re-upload it to Gemini, you can edit it using Nano Banana with a simple right click. Or, you could also use natural language to start an edit by pulling up the image you want to edit on your screen and telling Gemini to edit it in the side panel. Google says this should work with pretty much any image you can pull up on the browser. During a demo, Google showed this off to journalists using a Google Photos library, but there's nothing saying you have to stick to your own images. That immediately set off alarm bells for me, given Elon Musk's X is currently in hot water after opening up the ability for anyone to use Grok to edit other people's images directly on the social media platform and without their permission. After some users started using that tool to generate explicit content from others' photos, it was pared down a bit, but Google doesn't seem worried. When I asked about safety protections for this feature, a Google spokesperson told me the following: "We have clear policies that prohibit the use of our AI tools to generate sexually explicit content, and our tools are continually getting better at reflecting these policies. We've invested in safety from the outset and added technical guardrails to help limit problematic outputs such as violent, offensive, or sexually explicit content." The company didn't say anything about how users might use Nano Banana in Chrome to circumvent copyright, but technically, the new update doesn't really add new features to Google's AI image generator, it just makes it easier to access. Granted, the same thing applied to Grok's recent update, too, and easier access can mean opening the floodgates, even if you have the best of intentions. Use AI to Auto Browse in Chrome Finally, the big one: "Agentic" has been the hot buzzword in AI as of late, and Google doesn't want Chrome to be left behind. So now, instead of just answering questions, Gemini can take control of your browser for you. The functionality is currently limited to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers, but starting today, those subscribers can ask Chrome to "Auto Browse" -- completing research, taking you to different websites, and filling out forms for you. You can watch as the AI navigates around the web, or you can click away to a different tab while it works in the background. Multiple tabs can Auto Browse at the same time, so you can have a few tasks going on at once. The AI will list out the steps it takes in the side panel while it navigates around, to make checking in on it easier. Google demonstrated this to journalists by showing the AI finding a specific product, navigating to its store page, singing into the buyer's account (using Google Password Manager), and adding it to their cart. The company also suggested you could use Auto Browse to schedule appointments, fill out an online form using information from an uploaded PDF, collect tax documents, compare apartments listed on sites like Redfin, and more. I haven't been able to go hands-on with it yet, so I can't speak to how well it'll perform any of these tasks, although it did look snappy in the controlled demo. Do you really trust an AI to browse for you? My concern with Auto Browse mostly lies in sketchy websites and permissions, although Google told me it's planned for those. Auto Browse needs to get permission before it can access your Google Password Manager, and if it stumbles across a link that the AI thinks doesn't look quite right, it will supposedly use Chrome's existing unsafe browsing protections to navigate away. A Google spokesperson told me its "as secure as you can make it," although I'd probably want to keep an eye on it for at least my first few requests. The feature also has one limitation for now -- while it can be open in multiple tabs at once, your Auto Browse tabs won't be able to communicate with one another. That means each instance of Auto Browse is isolated, but that could change in the future. Personally, I don't see myself using this much, especially for sensitive tasks like "collecting tax documents," but automatically filling out a basic form does sound handy. Google said that Auto Browse will stop and ask for you to take over for sensitive steps in any tasks that might require it, like actually buying an item or submitting a form. It won't (or isn't supposed to) take that final step for you, giving you a chance to check its work. In that way, it's similar to the Gemini app's existing shopping features. Existing and upcoming features Gemini in Chrome can use most of Gemini's existing features, allowing it to connect with apps like Gmail or access your history chatting with the bot. But there is one big one that's planned for the "coming months." Recently, the Gemini app proper rolled out a beta for "Personal Intelligence" to paying users, allowing the AI to view all of your past conversations and connected apps without you having to direct it where to look. It's basically an extension of those existing connected apps and history features, with a reasoning model applied over it. For instance, you could tell it to help you find new tires for your car, and it would automatically know to look through your Gmail and Google Photos to find out what model of car you have and the last time you bought tires. That feature is still baking, but that it's even in the works means Google is moving fast on bringing parity between all the different ways you can access Gemini. Every other feature mentioned in this article is either already available, or rolling out now.

Chrome Gets 5 Wild New Gemini AI Features

We may earn a commission when you click links to retailers and purchase goods. More info. Google has essentially launched its new vision for Chrome today with an announcement for several new Gemini-powered features coming soon or arriving today. If you are into Gemini or think it might help you as you browse the internet, you'll probably be excited to learn all that was just shared. From Nano Banana integration to Personal Intelligence and a new auto browse feature, Gemini is capable of doing some pretty wild things in Chrome now. 1. Sidepanel UX in Chrome: The first big feature (available to all Chrome users) doesn't have a name, but is a sidepanel for Gemini that can be launched at any time by clicking the Gemini button in the top corner. This is the same button that has been there for a while, but used to only pop-up a floating Gemini experience that was a bit clunky to use. Now, this button opens a side panel in Chrome to let you work more clearly and with a dedicated space. RIP, to all the AI Chrome extensions. The sidepanel UX in Chrome can do quite a bit. It knows what you are doing across tabs, so you can have it compare items from multiple tabs or summarize them, plus it knows your calendar and can plan events using info from a whole browsing experience. That's just a sample of ideas, but we'll get into more here in a minute. The new sidepanel is rolling out starting today, January 28. 2. Connect apps in Chrome: Part of the way that Chrome and so many other Google apps become more powerful is by you allowing them to all connect. Google actually began rolling this out a week ago, but by turning on integrations with Gmail, Calendar, YouTube, Maps, Shopping, and Flights, Gemini within Chrome can reference old emails or event details, all while helping you do things like properly plan a flight around your life. This started rolling out on January 12. 3. Personal Intelligence in Chrome: Personal Intelligence is all the rage from Google these days, recently launching in Gemini and then AI Mode. This is a supercharged version of connecting apps, where Gemini (through Chrome) can remember context from past conversations and act more like a "trusted partner" while you browse, according to Google. Personal Intelligence won't launch right away, but is expected in the "coming months." 4. Nano Banana in Chrome: Because the world continues to think AI slop is super cool and uses Google's Nano Banana tool far too often, Google continues to think its awesome and is now injecting it everywhere. First off, stop creating AI slop - no one thinks it's cool. However, because we're sharing news, here's what you need to know about Nano Banana in Chrome. Google will allow you to find an image on the web and then Nano Banana with it without ever downloading the image. So you'll have the new Gemini sidepanel open with an image showing, and then you'll tell Gemini to do stuff to that image. It'll then do so and open that newly created AI image in a new tab for you to view. Again, this all happens in-browser. Nano Banana is launching in Chrome starting today. 5. Auto Browse in Chrome: The final new feature today from Google is an auto browse feature within Chrome that can complete more complex tasks for you. This is the "agentic" AI experience where AI is doing things for you rather than just returning info you request. What does that look like? Google provided a couple of examples. For one, you could be looking at image inspiration for a party and then tell Gemini to head over to Etsy to find supplies for the party from that image, add them to cart, but not spend more than $75. It can also apply discount codes if available and sign-in or use your Password Manager if needed. Google even showed someone with a couple of tabs open, one of which was a spreadsheet with a kids soccer team. The other tab was a tournament registration form needing to be filled out with the info from the sheet. They then added both tabs to the Gemini sidepanel and asked for the form to be filled out, which it then did for them. And lastly, Google showed a situation where someone was apartment shopping on Redfin. They asked Gemini to go through all of their favorited spots and shrink the list to those that are pet friendly. Then it was asked to add a search partner to the list, which Gemini did and then completed the task of inviting them. While some of these examples are very specific types of tasks, I guess the point is that you'll find yourself in a situation where it may be worth opening the Gemini sidepanel in Chrome and seeing if it can help you out. This new Auto Browse feature is rolling out today to AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.

Google lets the browser take control with major updates to Gemini in Chrome

Google lets the browser take control with major updates to Gemini in Chrome Google LLC today introduced major updates to Gemini in Chrome, the company's flagship artificial assistant in its major web browser, that will allow users to access the experience in new ways. With the new updates, users will be able to multitask on the web with a new side panel, generate images directly in the browser, automate multistep processes using "auto browse" and, in the coming months, add personal intelligence to the assistant. Let Chrome and Gemini do the work for you Google is welcoming users to a brand-new era with "auto browse," which is rolling out in preview for subscribers to Gemini Pro and Ultra. Essentially, users may now delegate tasks to Chrome by asking it to do tasks for them on the web, including filling out forms, logging into websites, shopping and even making purchases. During a demonstration, Parisa Tabriz, vice president of Chrome at Google, used auto browse to reorder a gray jacket. This included logging in -- after requesting her permission and getting her credentials from Google Password Manager -- going through the process of finding the jacket in the store, putting it in the cart and completing the purchase. She even tabbed away as auto browse operated to continue talking about a different part of the demo while the agent worked in the background. Auto browse can help optimize vacation planning by doing mundane work, such as researching hotel and flight costs across dates to find budget-friendly times for travel. It can also help schedule appointments, fill out tedious online forms, collect tax documents, get quotes for plumbers and electricians, check if bills are paid, fill expense reports, manage subscriptions and more. Gemini in a sidebar Google brought Gemini to Chrome in late 2025, providing access to its AI assistant to users on MacOS, Windows and Chromebook Plus. At the time, when Gemini was activated, it opened in its own little pocket window that users could drag around on the screen, which had awareness of the open tab. Starting today, users can attach it to the side of the browser window. If users open another tab, they can also have Gemini attach to those and only use that one as context. However, if users want Gemini to consolidate across multiple tabs - say if they are comparing products, services or planning a trip, they can click open multiple windows and the Gemini tab will add all the tabs to context. The users can then chat with Gemini in the side panel about their tabs all at once. According to Google, test users can then keep their primary tab open and use the side tab to keep a single conversation thread with Gemini and compare options. Transform images on the web By bringing the creative power of Nano Banana directly into Chrome, Gemini now allows users to transform images into whatever they like directly in their web browser without needing to download and re-upload them. Users need only type a prompt into the side panel while an image is displayed in the main window and tell Gemini what they want and the AI assistant will do the rest. For example, they could have a photo of their bedroom and ask Gemini to look at another tab with a lamp that they're interested in, to have it add it so they can see what it might look like next to their bed. Chrome becomes more personal with AI Google also said in the coming months it will roll out a more personalized experience by bringing Personal Intelligence, a capability it recently brought to the Gemini app, to Chrome. With this capability, Chrome will remember context from past conversations so users get uniquely tailored answers from web searches that fit their personality and needs. The company also stressed that this is an opt-in experience and users can choose which apps to connect or disconnect at any time.

Google adds AI image generation to Chrome, side panel option for virtual assistant

Google is empowering its Chrome browser with the ability to alter pictures and introducing a side panel for a virtual assistant to help with online tasks as part of its push to turbocharge its of digital services with more artificial intelligence techn... Google is empowering its Chrome browser with the ability to alter imagery and a virtual assistant to help with online tasks as part of its push to turbocharge its digital services with more artificial intelligence technology. The features rolling out include making Google's AI image generator and editing tool, Nano Banana, available to Chrome's logged-in users on desktop computers in the United States. The expanded access to Nano Banana through the leading web browser may further blur the lines between real-life pictures and fabricated images. The browser's expansion will also offer an option for Chrome's U.S. users to open a side panel so an AI-powered assistant can help with an assortment of chores while a user remains engaged with other online tasks. Subscribers to Google's AI Pro and Ultra services will also be able to activate an "auto browse" function that will log into websites, shop for merchandise on command and prepare posts on social media. Users will still have to manually complete purchases from the shopping carts prepared by AI and approve drafted social media posts. The AI in Chrome relies on the Gemini 3 model that Google released late last year and is now being baked into many of the services that helped its corporate parent, Alphabet, recently surpass a market value of $4 trillion. Earlier this month, Google tapped into Gemini to bring more AI features to Gmail as part of an effort to make that service behave more like a personal assistant and then funneled more of the technology into its search engine. in hopes of providing more relevant answers tailored to users' individual tastes and habits. The upgrades to Google's search engine plug into the company's "Personal Intelligence" technology that leverages AI to learn more about people's lives. Google is promising to roll out a Personal Intelligence option in Chrome at some point later this year. Chrome's AI makeover is rolling out just a few months after a federal judge rejected the U.S. Department of Justice's push to force Google to sell the browser as part of the penalty for running an illegal monopoly in search. The judge rebuffed the proposed breakup partly because he believes AI already is reshaping the competitive landscape as smaller rivals such as OpenAI and Perplexity deploy the technology in chatbots and their own web browsers. Before releasing its AI browser Atlas last October, OpenAI had expressed interest in buying Chrome if the breakup had been ordered. Perplexity, which offers an AI browser called Comet, even submitted a $34.5 billion bid for Chrome before the judge opted against a sale mandate.

Google adds AI image generation to Chrome browser, side panel option for virtual assistant

Google is empowering its Chrome browser with the ability to alter imagery and a virtual assistant to help with online tasks as part of its push to turbocharge its digital services with more artificial intelligence technology. The features rolling out include making Google's AI image generator and editing tool, Nano Banana, available to Chrome's logged-in users on desktop computers in the United States. The expanded access to Nano Banana through the leading web browser may further blur the lines between real-life pictures and fabricated images. The browser's expansion will also offer an option for Chrome's U.S. users to open a side panel so an AI-powered assistant can help with an assortment of chores while a user remains engaged with other online tasks. Subscribers to Google's AI Pro and Ultra services will also be able to activate an "auto browse" function that will log into websites, shop for merchandise on command and prepare posts on social media. Users will still have to manually complete purchases from the shopping carts prepared by AI and approve drafted social media posts. The AI in Chrome relies on the Gemini 3 model that Google released late last year and is now being baked into many of the services that helped its corporate parent, Alphabet, recently surpass a market value of $4 trillion. Earlier this month, Google tapped into Gemini to bring more AI features to Gmail as part of an effort to make that service behave more like a personal assistant and then funneled more of the technology into its search engine. in hopes of providing more relevant answers tailored to users' individual tastes and habits. The upgrades to Google's search engine plug into the company's "Personal Intelligence" technology that leverages AI to learn more about people's lives. Google is promising to roll out a Personal Intelligence option in Chrome at some point later this year. Chrome's AI makeover is rolling out just a few months after a federal judge rejected the U.S. Department of Justice's push to force Google to sell the browser as part of the penalty for running an illegal monopoly in search. The judge rebuffed the proposed breakup partly because he believes AI already is reshaping the competitive landscape as smaller rivals such as OpenAI and Perplexity deploy the technology in chatbots and their own web browsers. Before releasing its AI browser Atlas last October, OpenAI had expressed interest in buying Chrome if the breakup had been ordered. Perplexity, which offers an AI browser called Comet, even submitted a $34.5 billion bid for Chrome before the judge opted against a sale mandate.

New Google Chrome AI Agent Navigates Web for Users | PYMNTS.com

The capability, called "auto browse," reflects a shift in how people might interact with online content, moving from manual search and navigation to delegating complex workflows to an AI assistant. Auto browse is powered by Google's Gemini 3 AI model and is initially available in preview for Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in the United States on desktop versions of Chrome. It allows users to describe goals in natural language, such as researching travel options, comparing products or filling out forms. Chrome's AI will open sites, click links and work across pages to complete those tasks. The rollout represents one of the most advanced uses of generative AI directly inside a mainstream browser. According to Bloomberg, this new agentic capability can interact with websites on the user's behalf, reducing the need for manual navigation and repetitive input. Google has said that sensitive actions like making purchases or posting on social media will still require explicit user approval before final execution, aiming to balance convenience with user control. The feature builds on earlier additions of AI into Chrome, where the browser could already summarize page content, provide natural-language answers and consolidate information across tabs. With auto browse, those assistive functions evolve into proactive action: the AI doesn't just help find information; it can execute sequences of actions across websites to fulfill user requests. In its announcement, Google positioned auto browse as part of its broader effort to transform Chrome into an AI-native productivity platform that works alongside users' workflows. A newly redesigned AI side panel remains open alongside tabs so users can monitor, tweak or redirect the agent's tasks in real time. Google described the experience as akin to having a personal assistant that can operate within the same web interface that users are on. Competitors have already begun introducing their own AI-driven browsers, including OpenAI's ChatGPT Atlas and Perplexity's Comet, which also offer AI agents capable of navigating the web and performing actions for users. These developments reflect a growing AI browser arms race in which multiple tech companies seek to redefine how people access and use the internet.

Google adds AI image generation to Chrome browser, side panel option for virtual assistant

Google is empowering its Chrome browser with the ability to alter imagery and a virtual assistant to help with online tasks as part of its push to turbocharge its digital services with more artificial intelligence technology. The features rolling out include making Google's AI image generator and editing tool, Nano Banana, available to Chrome's logged-in users on desktop computers in the United States. The expanded access to Nano Banana through the leading web browser may further blur the lines between real-life pictures and fabricated images. The browser's expansion will also offer an option for Chrome's U.S. users to open a side panel so an AI-powered assistant can help with an assortment of chores while a user remains engaged with other online tasks. Subscribers to Google's AI Pro and Ultra services will also be able to activate an "auto browse" function that will log into websites, shop for merchandise on command and prepare posts on social media. Users will still have to manually complete purchases from the shopping carts prepared by AI and approve drafted social media posts. The AI in Chrome relies on the Gemini 3 model that Google released late last year and is now being baked into many of the services that helped its corporate parent, Alphabet, recently surpass a market value of US$4 trillion. Earlier this month, Google tapped into Gemini to bring more AI features to Gmail as part of an effort to make that service behave more like a personal assistant and then funneled more of the technology into its search engine. in hopes of providing more relevant answers tailored to users' individual tastes and habits. The upgrades to Google's search engine plug into the company's "Personal Intelligence" technology that leverages AI to learn more about people's lives. Google is promising to roll out a Personal Intelligence option in Chrome at some point later this year. Chrome's AI makeover is rolling out just a few months after a federal judge rejected the U.S. Department of Justice's push to force Google to sell the browser as part of the penalty for running an illegal monopoly in search. The judge rebuffed the proposed breakup partly because he believes AI already is reshaping the competitive landscape as smaller rivals such as OpenAI and Perplexity deploy the technology in chatbots and their own web browsers. Before releasing its AI browser Atlas last October, OpenAI had expressed interest in buying Chrome if the breakup had been ordered. Perplexity, which offers an AI browser called Comet, even submitted a US$34.5 billion bid for Chrome before the judge opted against a sale mandate.