Google has unveiled what it calls the most significant upgrade in Chrome’s history. Gemini AI is now built directly into the browser (for US users only at this stage, but coming to UK in a few weeks, apparently). So now Chrome gets built-in Gemini AI, will it really be any help? Might it cause confusion and get in the way? Will there be security implications?
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More than just a gateway to the web, Chrome is, allegedly, becoming a true AI-powered assistant, designed to save time, boost productivity, and enhance online safety. What does Google say can it do for us? Will there be pitfalls?
Smarter Browsing now Chrome gets built-in Gemini AI?
Here’s what Google’s own announcement blog has to say, “Chrome: The browser you love, reimagined with AI,” The post speaks of “making the web even more helpful, more secure, and more intuitive,” and states that AI is being built in to help “turn 30-minute chores into 3-click user journeys.” Sounds great, so what will that mean in practice?
Gemini brings ‘conversational intelligence’ into Chrome. Users can now:
- Summarise pages into digestible points.
- Compare multiple tabs in one clear overview.
- Revisit history using natural language, like “What was that walnut desk article I read last week?”
- Integrate apps like Maps, Calendar, and YouTube without leaving Chrome.
- Ask questions in-page and get instant answers directly from the address bar.
A new AI Mode button is also arriving in the omnibox (the combined address bar and search bar at the top of the browser window, yes, it has a name!), enabling complex queries and richer responses while keeping Google Search as the default when you hit Enter.
Productivity Meets Protection
Gemini isn’t just about speed and convenience. Google is suggesting security gets a boost too:
- Phishing and scam detection is expanded, catching fake virus alerts and tech support frauds.
- Spam control reduces unwanted notifications and intrusive permission prompts.
- Password management is smarter than ever, with AI auto-navigating reset pages and creating secure logins on sites like Spotify, Coursera, and H&M.
It’ll be interesting to see how these features perform against and alongside device security products.
Benefits for Businesses
For teams already using Google Workspace, Gemini promises to streamline research, cross-tab work, and repetitive tasks. The integration across apps may also reduce the constant switching between tools that slows productivity.
And for Microsoft users?
While Gemini’s tightest integrations are naturally with Google’s own ecosystem, the AI enhancements in Chrome itself—like page summarisation, safer browsing, and smarter tab management—still deliver real advantages regardless of which productivity suite you use. For organisations standardised on Microsoft tools, these features could help staff cut down time spent wrangling multiple tabs or chasing lost web content, even if deeper app integrations remain Google-centric.
Microsoft’s AI Everywhere Strategy
Google isn’t alone in reshaping everyday tools with AI. Microsoft is weaving its Copilot technology into almost everything—including Notepad. The classic text editor now offers Summarise, Write, and Rewrite tools that can draft, refine, or condense text with a right-click. On Copilot+ PCs, these features run locally; elsewhere, they rely on Microsoft 365 subscriptions and cloud processing.
Combined with Copilot in Office apps, Teams, and Windows itself, it’s clear Microsoft is just as committed to an AI-everywhere future as Google. For businesses, this means the choice of ecosystem is less about whether AI will permeate workflows and more about which flavour of AI they’ll live with day to day.
Points of Caution
Despite the potential for gains, significant questions remain. Some AI features may be switched on by default, raising concerns over user choice and security. Businesses will also need to clarify how browsing data interacts with AI models. How easily will system admins, IT departments and IT support providers be able to manage and, if need be, limit or block access across teams?
A Glimpse of the Future
With Gemini, Chrome is evolving into more than a browser—it’s being hailed as a ‘proactive assistant’. With the arrival of new features like this comes a learning curve for users. The benefits of saved time, sharper insights, and stronger security are tangible. Those benefits might be a long time coming while users get to grips with new tools though.
As AI becomes embedded in everyday tools, irrespective of which vendor ecosystem you’ve bought into, users will demand to use AI tools in business. The balance between convenience, transparency, and control matters more than ever.
We’ll certainly be investigating further when Gemini comes to Chrome in the UK. Perhaps it would be wise to ‘no go there’ on your business devices, at least until the significant questions around security are answered to the satisfaction of UK IT security professionals?
Get in touch to discuss how these changes could impact your business.
