Chrome gets an AI makeover, turning into a shopping assistant, researcher, and more

Chrome users can now summon AI from any webpage to answer any question.

Google is advancing its Chrome browser with AI capabilities by adding a number of new features.

The company says these enhancements will help Chrome better understand users' requests and explain more complex information, making browsing more productive and safe.

Among the ten new features is the rollout of Gemini to the browser for Windows and Mac users, allowing users to ask AI questions while browsing through different webpages. The AI-powered Chrome will also be available on mobile devices.

However, the company notes that this feature is currently only available for users in the US.

AI-powered Chrome as a personal assistant

Next on Google’s agenda is providing Chrome users with Gemini’s “agentic” capabilities, which would help them with tasks such as ordering groceries or making an appointment at a salon. All users would have to do is tell Gemini what they want to be done so it can go through the webpages and request these things on their behalf.

Besides shopping assistance, Gemini can also navigate through multiple tabs to compare and summarize information available on each tab. This will make it more convenient to plan a trip by creating an itinerary based on the information provided, for example.

More detailed search with Gemini-driven Chrome

With the latest Chrome update, users will no longer have to scroll through search history to find a website they visited in the past. Now, users can ask AI to find it for them via a prompt.

Google has also integrated Gemini into other Google apps, such as YouTube, Calendar, and Maps. This allows users to schedule meetings and check location details without leaving their current webpage.

Next month, the company will introduce users to Google Search AI Mode, which will allow them to summon AI from the Chrome address bar, also called omnibox. This AI Mode will provide users with answers to longer and more complex queries that require a deeper dive into the web.

Users will also be able to ask more questions related to the webpage they’re on, using the omnibox with Chrome. Chrome also provides questions based on the page context to help users with their search.

Chrome uses AI to enhance online safety

The company’s new Chrome upgrade also includes a few features that ensure user safety online.

With Gemini Nano, users get help identifying tech support scams that try to trick them into downloading unsafe software. In the future, the feature will also include the blocking of sites that include fake viruses or fake giveaways.

Chrome can also detect scam or spam notifications and ask users whether they want to see them or unsubscribe. With the help of AI, the browser learns the user's preferences and signals of site quality, determining whether a user will grant permissions to present them in a less intrusive way.

Another safety-related feature that Google plans to introduce to Chrome is using AI as a “password agent” that lets users change their “saved passwords with a single click on supported sites.”

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