AI is now an integral part of Google Chrome. Love it or hate it, itās the general direction for the latest few updates. Google intends to make Gemini and AI mode part of your everyday browsing experience. Still, you can disable some of the more intrusive additions in the settings.
Now, letās have a look at some of the most important upgrades to your browser.
9 New Chrome Features You Should Know About
Google is including AI in Chrome across multiple levels. The general idea is to make the browser smarter and more powerful. You can, of course, personalize your experience in the settings.
Unfortunately, you canāt disable all the features you desire. But we will point out the ones you can, and show you how.
Gemini in Chrome
Gemini acts as your AI assistant in Chrome and will help you out with your queries. Itās available on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. You can now find a Gemini button in the upper-right corner of the browser.
It will open up a sidebar where you can ask the AI questions about your currently open tabs. Thankfully, this feature isnāt too intrusive, and you can mostly ignore the button.
AI Mode in Google Search
You can access AI mode right from the search bar. This is basically an AI-enhanced version of Google Search. You can ask longer, more complicated questions and converse with your browser like itās a chatbot. You can also ask follow-up questions.
However, if youāre not a fan of this feature, you can disable it. To do so, youāll have to find Chromeās experimental features section. Type chrome://flags into the address bar and press Enter. Once youāre there, type in āai modeā in the available search box. It should show you several options like:
- AI Mode Omnibox entrypoint
- AI Entrypoint Disabled on User Input
- Omnibox Allow AI Mode Matches.
Select Disabled on the menu next to them to remove AI mode.
Agentic Capabilities
You can now treat your browser as an autonomous agent that will handle time-consuming tasks for you. This includes ordering your groceries, booking appointments, and similar errands.
Just tell Gemini what you want it to do and watch it go. However, you can monitor the process and stop the agent anytime.
Work Across Multiple Tabs
If youāre one of those people who keep a lot of Chrome tabs open, youāll like this feature. Gemini can keep track of all your tabs and consolidate the information in one place. For example, if youāre planning a trip, it will monitor your plane ticket, hotel, and booking websites, all at once.
Recall Past Tabs
Tired of scrolling through your search history? If youāre looking for that one specific website you visited the other day, you can just ask Gemini. You can prompt it with questions, and the AI will recall the last time you opened that page.
Gemini Integrations with Google Apps
Google has integrated Gemini with several in-house services, such as Calendar, Gmail, Docs, Maps, and even YouTube. You can prompt it right there, without leaving the screen or opening another tab.
Ask Follow-up Questions on Current Pages
The AI overview in the side panel grants you more in-depth answers about the pages youāre currently on. Chrome can also suggest relevant questions based on the context of the website. Still, this feature is only available in the US and in English, for now.
Gemini Nano
Gemini Nano is available as part of Chromeās Enhanced Protection mode. It can detect tech support scams and prevent you from downloading malicious software. This feature is still in development, with plans for virus and pop-up protection in future updates.
Enhanced Autofill
Enhanced autofill can now complete your personal information for your passport, driverās license, and more. Itās also more accurate than before.
However, if you have data security concerns, you can disable it in the Settings.
To do so:
- Open Chrome.
- In the top-right corner, select the three-dot menu.
- Go to Settings > Autofill and passwords.
- Select Enhanced Autofill, and check if itās toggled off.
Conclusion
So, now you know all the latest Google Chrome features. Evidently, theyāre AI-focused, which has polarized the user base. So, how do you feel about these changes? In any case, you can turn off some of the more in-your-face additions that might disrupt your browsing.
