I was late paying my water bill, again. I dread the thought of opening multiple tabs, sifting through emails, and punching in my credit card like some digital serf—but what if that future simply vanished? Google is betting big that its latest Chrome update, infused with Gemini AI, can finally take over the mundane drudgery of online life.
The Gemini-Powered Sidekick Arrives
Ever felt like you needed a co-pilot for your chaotic browsing sessions? Google thinks so. Their answer? A new side panel in Chrome, powered by the Gemini AI model, designed to be your on-screen assistant as you surf the web. The promise is simple: keep Gemini visible and ready across all your tabs, able to juggle tasks without losing focus on your main activity.
Google’s VP of Chrome, Parisa Tabriz, demonstrated the feature by noting how users can launch completely new conversations within the sidebar without disturbing their primary browsing tab.
According to Google, the feature can help you compare options across multiple tabs, summarize product reviews from different sites, and find open slots on your calendar.
Google Apps Get the Gemini Treatment
Imagine your browser could talk to all your other apps. With the Gemini assistant in Chrome, that’s becoming reality. It’s designed to connect directly with Gmail, Calendar, YouTube, Maps, Google Shopping, and even Google Flights, letting you complete tasks across these services without leaving the browser. For instance, when planning a conference trip, Gemini could pull event details from your email, get flight recommendations, and draft an email to colleagues about your arrival time, all within the sidebar. According to Google, users must enable app access in the Gemini settings.
This integration is Google’s attempt to weave your digital life into a single, manageable thread. Is it convenient or a little *too* connected?
Can Gemini edit images?
Yes, it can. Google also added its image generation tool, Nano Banana, which can now “transform images” in the browser without needing a download. Simply give Gemini a prompt in the side panel, and it can modify the image directly.
‘Auto Browse’: The Paid Upgrade That Browses for You
Now, here’s where it gets interesting – and a little pricey. Google AI Pro and Google AI Ultra subscribers gain access to “Auto Browse,” a feature Tabriz calls a more powerful version of autofill. It’s more like giving Gemini the keys to your car and telling it to run errands. “Auto Browse” empowers Gemini to complete multi-step tasks on your behalf within the browser, jumping between tabs and services as needed.
Tabriz described “Auto Browse” as “really taking control of your browser and doing things completely on your behalf.” In a demonstration, she asked Gemini to re-order a jacket she’d bought a year ago. The AI opened a new tab, went to the company’s website, logged into her account, found the order, and started the re-ordering process—a digital worker bee, at your beck and call. Gemini asks you to confirm before finalizing any transaction.
For now, “Auto Browse” supports Etsy, Shopify, Target, and Wayfair. Google says it can also research hotels and flights for vacation planning. Testers have used it for scheduling appointments, completing online forms, collecting tax documents, getting quotes from plumbers and electricians, checking bill payments, managing subscriptions, and even renewing driving licenses.
How will Personal Intelligence in Chrome affect privacy?
This is a valid question and a potential snag. According to Google, Gemini will work locally, but it will also send data back to the cloud. The company will also be bringing “Personal Intelligence” to Chrome, so it can draw on your Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Google Photos, YouTube watch history, and Google Search history. This can be activated on an opt-in basis, letting users select which apps they want to be included. The promise is a more personalized browsing experience, but the cost is handing over even more of your data to Google. The features like the side panel and Nano Banana integration are available now; “Auto Browse” is live for AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers; and “Personal Intelligence” is coming later. One could say that Google is building a digital brain, and you’re providing the raw material.
How can I use Auto Browse?
Auto Browse can streamline tedious tasks. It could research hotels and flight costs, schedule appointments, fill out online forms, collect tax documents, get quotes from plumbers and electricians, check bill payments, manage subscriptions, and renew driving licenses. Imagine using it to monitor prices on items you want to purchase or to track the progress of online orders.
Tabriz said “Auto Browse” will assist with the “mundane work” of researching hotel and flight costs across multiple date options for a vacation, among other tasks, saving a “ton of time”. The degree to which your life can be automated by Google depends on how comfortable you are with it handling your personal data.
As Google pushes further into AI-powered assistance, is this the dawn of effortless browsing or the erosion of digital privacy?