Google adds Gemini AI upgrades to Chrome

Google is rolling out what it calls the "biggest upgrade yet" to its Chrome browser. The update centers on integrating the company's Gemini AI model, which is gradually being made available to users.

The first version is live for desktop users on Mac and Windows in the US. It lets people use AI queries to make sense of complex information on websites. Google says the features will expand in the coming weeks to Google Workspace customers and later to mobile users in the US.

A new AI agent is on the way

The most ambitious addition won't arrive for a few months: a so-called "agentic" browsing assistant. Instead of just answering questions, it will be able to perform time-consuming tasks directly on websites - things like booking a haircut or ordering groceries. Users will stay in control and can stop the process at any point.

At first glance, Google looks like it's playing catch-up. Comet, a browser from AI search company Perplexity, already offers agent-like functions. But even the best of these systems are still hit-or-miss when handling real browsing tasks.