Google Chrome Gets Agentic AI: Gemini Can Now Browse the Web for You

Google has unveiled a major update to Chrome that transforms the browser from a passive tool into an active AI agent. The new "auto browse" feature, powered by Gemini 3, can autonomously navigate websites, research options, fill out forms, and complete complex multi-step tasks—all while you watch or continue working elsewhere.

Key Highlights

Autonomous browsing: Gemini can navigate multiple websites, compare options, and gather information without manual intervention
Multi-step task completion: Handle complex workflows like travel research, apartment hunting, and form filling
Full transparency: All AI actions appear in a side panel, and users can take over at any time
Safety guardrails: Auto browse pauses before sensitive actions like purchases or social media posts

How It Works

The update moves Gemini from a floating window into a persistent side panel on the right side of Chrome. From there, users can delegate complex browsing tasks to the AI assistant.

Google's examples include:

Searching for hotel and flight deals matching specific budgets and preferences
Managing favorite listings on real estate sites like Redfin
Filling out complex online forms
Researching and comparing products across multiple websites

Every action Gemini takes appears chronologically in the side panel. Users retain full control and can inspect what the AI did, take over browsing manually, or stop the process at any point.

Security and Privacy

Google has built explicit safeguards into the system. Auto browse is designed to pause and request confirmation before:

Making any purchases
Posting on social media
Submitting sensitive information
Taking actions that can't be easily reversed

This "human in the loop" approach aims to prevent unintended consequences while still delivering the convenience of automated browsing.

Universal Commerce Protocol

Alongside auto browse, Google announced support for the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP)—a new open standard for agentic commerce. Co-developed with industry leaders including Shopify, Etsy, Wayfair, and Target, UCP ensures AI agents can interact with e-commerce platforms securely and consistently.

This standardization is critical for the emerging agentic AI ecosystem, where AI assistants need to perform actions across thousands of different websites with varying interfaces.

Availability and Pricing

Auto browse is currently rolling out to Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in the United States. The company is collecting feedback ahead of a wider global rollout.

Requirements:

Google AI Pro or AI Ultra subscription
Chrome browser on Mac, Windows, or Chromebook Plus
US region (initially)

Free Chrome users will still get access to the redesigned Gemini side panel for basic AI assistance, but the autonomous browsing capabilities require a paid subscription.

Industry Context

Google's move comes as AI-native browsers like Arc and Operator gain traction with users seeking more intelligent browsing experiences. By deeply integrating Gemini into Chrome—which holds over 65% of the browser market—Google is positioning itself to define what agentic browsing looks like at scale.

The update also aligns with the broader industry shift toward agentic AI. Anthropic's Model Context Protocol (MCP), recently adopted by OpenAI and donated to the Linux Foundation, is establishing standards for how AI agents interact with external tools and services. Google has begun setting up its own MCP servers to connect AI agents to its products.

What's Next

Google has signaled that auto browse is just the beginning of Chrome's transformation into an AI-powered platform. As the technology matures and user feedback rolls in, expect broader availability, more capable autonomous features, and tighter integration with Google's ecosystem of productivity tools.

For web developers and businesses, this shift raises important questions about how to design websites and services that work well with AI agents—a consideration that may become as important as mobile responsiveness in the coming years.

Source: Google Blog