Google announced new Gemini-powered features for Google Chrome on January 27, expanding the browser’s capabilities with AI-assisted multitasking and agentic browsing.
Built on Gemini 3, the updates introduced a persistent side panel that allowed users to interact with Gemini without leaving their current tab.
Google said the panel could be used to compare information across sites, summarize content, and manage tasks alongside active browsing.
The update also added deeper integrations with Google apps, including Gmail, Calendar, Maps, YouTube, Flights, and Shopping.
These connected apps allowed Gemini to pull contextual information across services to assist with workflows such as travel planning and scheduling.
For paid AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the U.S., Google introduced Chrome auto browse 2, an agentic feature designed to complete multi-step tasks on a user’s behalf.
Auto browse could research options, fill out forms, collect documents, and manage subscriptions, while pausing for confirmation on sensitive actions.
Google said the updates would roll out on macOS, Windows, and Chromebook Plus devices, with additional features such as Personal Intelligence coming to Chrome in the months ahead.
Why This Matters Today
The update marked a shift in Chrome’s role from a passive browser to an active assistant capable of executing tasks across the web.
As users spend more time navigating complex workflows online, browsers have become a key surface for AI-driven productivity.
By embedding Gemini directly into Chrome, Google reduced friction between searching, analyzing, and acting on information.
The side panel design addressed multitasking fatigue by allowing users to keep primary work visible while delegating secondary tasks to AI.
The introduction of auto browse reflected broader industry movement toward agentic systems that can plan and act autonomously.
However, Google emphasized user control, requiring confirmations for purchases, sign-ins, and other sensitive steps. This balance responded to growing concerns about trust, security, and unintended actions by AI agents.
The support for Universal Commerce Protocol signaled Google’s intent to standardize agent-driven transactions across partners like Shopify and Wayfair.
As AI agents increasingly interact with commercial websites, open standards may determine how widely these systems are adopted and trusted.
Our Key Takeaways:
Google expanded Gemini in Chrome to move the browser toward agentic assistance rather than simple information retrieval.
The updates combined multitasking tools, connected app context, and autonomous task execution in a single interface.
Chrome auto-browse extended AI involvement into real-world workflows such as travel planning and form completion. The rollout positioned Chrome as a central platform for agent-based web interaction.
- Google added Gemini-powered side panel assistance and agentic browsing features to Chrome.
- Paid subscribers gained access to auto browse, which can complete multi-step tasks with user confirmation.
- The changes signaled a shift toward browsers acting as AI-driven execution layers, not just navigation tools.
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