Google brings Gemini AI to all Chrome users with cross-tab features

Google is expanding Gemini AI integration to all Chrome desktop users in the US on Windows and Mac, bringing cross-tab functionality, YouTube video navigation, and Google app integration directly into the browser. This move positions Chrome to compete directly with AI-first browsers like Perplexity’s Comet and signals the mainstream arrival of AI-powered browsing experiences for billions of users.

What you should know: Gemini in Chrome was previously limited to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers but is now rolling out widely with enhanced capabilities.

• Users can access Gemini through a new sparkle icon in the top-right corner of the tab strip.
• The AI assistant can explain complex topics, summarize and compare information across multiple tabs, and take users directly to specific moments in YouTube videos.
• Gemini can quickly recall previously visited websites without requiring users to scroll through browser history.

Key capabilities: The integration allows seamless interaction with Google’s ecosystem of apps and services.

• Users can get information from Google Calendar, Maps, and YouTube without leaving their current page.
• Gemini can navigate inside YouTube videos to find exact moments users want to watch.
• The assistant works across all open tabs, providing a unified AI experience throughout the browsing session.

What’s coming next: Google plans to introduce “agentic” capabilities that will enable Gemini to take actions on users’ behalf rather than just providing information.

• Future features include booking appointments, ordering groceries based on YouTube recipes, and handling email tasks.
• These agentic AI capabilities mirror the proactive assistant concept that Perplexity, an AI search company, successfully implemented in its Comet browser.

Competitive landscape: Chrome’s Gemini integration directly challenges Perplexity’s invite-only Comet browser, which pioneered many of these AI-first browsing features.

• Perplexity’s Comet has offered similar functionality for months, including tab comparison, shopping assistance, and YouTube navigation.
• Google’s control over the browser market gives it significant leverage to make AI browsers mainstream, potentially pressuring Perplexity to open Comet to all users and accelerate innovation.

Why this matters: The integration represents a fundamental shift toward AI-powered browsing that could transform how users interact with web content and save significant time on routine tasks.