Google Teases Deeper AI Mode and Gemini Integration in Chrome

Like it or not, Google is bringing even more AI into Chrome — and this time, it’s not just search suggestions. The browser is getting smarter, more “agent-like,” and capable of carrying out repetitive tasks on your behalf.

Gemini Chat Comes to Chrome for Free

First up, Google’s Gemini chatbot is now free to use inside Chrome. The company first announced Gemini integration at Google I/O in May, but until now it required a paid Google AI plan. Starting today, desktop users in the U.S. (Mac and Windows) with English set as their language can access Gemini directly. Just click the star icon in the top-right corner of Chrome, which opens a small chat window where you can type to Gemini right away.

Gemini is also rolling out to mobile Chrome in the U.S. “so you always have access to our AI features, whether you’re at home or on the go,” says Google product lead Mike Tores. It will land on Android first — even allowing activation via the power button — with iOS support “coming soon.”

This expansion could expose many more users to Gemini, Google’s rival to OpenAI’s ChatGPT. And Google says Gemini will soon do more than just answer questions — it will be able to act directly on your browsing session.

“In the coming months, we’ll introduce agent-like capabilities in Chrome,” Tores said. “That means Gemini will handle time-consuming chores — like booking a haircut or ordering your weekly groceries — so you don’t have to.”

In demos shown to journalists, Gemini read a list of ingredients from a Gmail email, opened Instacart in a new Chrome tab, added the items to the cart, and waited for the user to review and confirm the order. “You can stop the process at any time — you stay in control,” Tores added.

Gemini will also be able to navigate between open tabs, compare information, and generate summaries — perfect for things like vacation planning when you have multiple tabs with flights, hotels, and activities open.

Another planned feature: using Gemini as a smarter way to search your browsing history. You could type something like, “What was that walnut desk website I looked at last week?” or “Which blog did I read about back-to-school shopping?” and Gemini will surface the exact page.

The same concept applies to YouTube. In another demo, Gemini analyzed a clip and produced a concise summary with direct links to key moments.

Chrome’s New AI Mode in the Search Bar

Beyond Gemini, Chrome’s next major shift is a new AI Mode built directly into the address/search bar. Traditionally, Chrome just sends your query to Google Search. With AI Mode enabled, instead of a plain list of results, Chrome will display an AI-generated response in a ChatGPT-style interface, with links to sources listed alongside it.

AI Mode won’t run automatically — you’ll have to click a button after typing your query to trigger it — but it will be enabled by default for users.

Google says the feature will roll out later this month in the U.S. (English first) with more regions and languages following soon. However, only Chrome Enterprise users will be able to fully disable the AI Mode button.

Additionally, Chrome’s omnibox will soon offer AI-powered contextual suggestions based on the page you’re viewing — such as summarizing reviews on a product page or pulling up warranty details without extra clicks.

Smarter Security: Auto-Changing Compromised Passwords

Google also detailed its upcoming AI-powered automatic password change feature. While Chrome’s password manager already warns you when a saved password has been leaked, changing it usually means manually visiting the site and going through multiple steps.

Soon, Chrome will handle the entire process with a single click — automatically generating a strong replacement password and saving it back to your password manager.

There’s one catch: websites need to implement a bit of code to support automated password resets. At launch, about 250 sites will be supported — including Coursera, Spotify, Duolingo, and H&M — with more being added over time.

Why This Matters

Google’s flurry of announcements comes as OpenAI reportedly works on its own AI-powered browser, potentially a direct competitor to Chrome. With ChatGPT already seen as a threat to traditional search, Google is clearly racing to keep Chrome relevant — and ahead.