Google enhances its browser by integrating Gemini directly into Chrome for all Mac and Windows users in the U.S.
Previously available only to Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers, the assistant is now free and comes with new “agentic” capabilities designed to automate everyday tasks.
Native Integration of Gemini in Chrome
Specifically, users with their language set to English can now click on the Gemini icon in the top bar of Chrome to ask questions about any webpage. Reading a banana bread recipe? Gemini can rewrite it in gluten-free format.
Gemini can also:
- Compare and summarize multiple tabs at once, useful for organizing a trip or comparing products.
- Recall previously visited pages via contextual memory, for instance, to identify the site where you found a desk last week.
- Integrate with Google apps (Calendar, YouTube, Maps…) to schedule appointments, navigate videos, or obtain information without leaving your page.
Towards Autonomous AI Agents
The major announcement from Google is the upcoming introduction of true agentic capabilities. In the future, Gemini will be able to perform tasks for you, such as making restaurant reservations, scheduling hair appointments, or filling your online grocery cart.
No need to worry: Google specifies that “checkpoints” will be in place to confirm any actions deemed risky or irreversible, such as payments.
AI in the Address Bar
Another innovation, AI Mode, transforms the Chrome address bar into an intelligent search engine. You will be able to pose complex queries like, “I sleep on my side and sometimes have back pain; create a comparison table of mattress types.” You can then ask follow-up questions directly in the address bar, such as, “What is the average lifespan of foam mattresses?”
Chrome will also offer contextual questions based on the displayed page to guide your search.
Enhanced Security with AI
Google will also utilize its Gemini Nano model to protect users against AI-generated scams, such as fake antivirus pop-ups or fraudulent contests.
Another addition is the ability to automatically reset a compromised password with one click, already compatible with sites like Spotify, H&M, Duolingo, and Coursera.
A unified desktop and mobile experience:
- On desktop, Gemini is now being rolled out in Chrome (Mac and Windows) and will gradually expand.
- On Android, AI could already interact with Chrome but will gain the ability to consider the entire context of a page.
- On iPhone, integration into the Chrome app will arrive “soon.”
An Open Battle of AI Browsers
With this large rollout, Google is catching up to its competitors. OpenAI launched Operator and then merged its tools into ChatGPT Agent; Anthropic introduced Computer Use for Claude; Perplexity launched Comet, its own browser.
In short: Chrome is becoming more than just a browser; it is evolving into a comprehensive digital assistant.
