Google AI Mode: Browse Web Side-by-Side with Gemini
▼ Summary
– Google is rolling out a new feature in AI Mode on Chrome desktop that opens webpages side-by-side with the AI conversation.
– This side-by-side view is designed to help users explore websites, compare details, and ask contextual follow-up questions without switching tabs.
– A separate new feature allows users to search across their already-open Chrome tabs and include that context in their AI Mode queries.
– These updates to AI Mode are currently available only in the U.S. in English, with plans for future regional expansion.
– The announcements were accompanied by promotional material for the TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 conference, which is unrelated to the product updates.
Google has introduced a significant update to its AI-powered search experience, enabling users to view webpages directly alongside the AI interface. This new feature, now rolling out for Chrome desktop, allows for a more integrated and efficient research process by eliminating the need to constantly switch between tabs. The company states the innovation aims to streamline how people gather information, compare details, and ask nuanced follow-up questions without losing their original search context.
Consider a scenario where you are shopping for a new coffee maker. You can describe your preferences within AI Mode and receive a list of suggested products. Clicking on a specific model opens the retailer’s site in a side-by-side view with the AI assistant. From there, you can immediately ask questions like, “How easy is this model to clean?” The AI will then synthesize information from that specific webpage and other sources across the internet to provide a direct answer.
Early user feedback highlighted the value of this streamlined approach. Testers appreciated not having to juggle multiple tabs when working through complex articles or lengthy videos. Google noted that keeping both the search AI and the source material visible helped users maintain focus on their task while actively exploring useful web pages.
In a related enhancement, Google also unveiled a new method to search across your already open Chrome tabs. On both desktop and mobile, users can now tap a new “plus” menu within the search box on the New Tab page or in AI Mode. This allows you to select recent tabs to incorporate their content directly into your AI Mode search queries. This functionality enables a powerful cross-tab context search, where you can blend information from multiple open pages, images, or files.
For instance, if you have several browser tabs open while researching local hiking trails, you can add them to a search and ask the AI to find similar trails in a different geographic area. A student studying for an exam could pull context from open lecture slides, class notes, and research papers to ask for specific examples that illustrate a complex statistical concept.
These updates to Google’s AI Mode are currently available to users in the United States in English. The company has indicated plans for a broader international rollout to additional regions in the coming months.
(Source: TechCrunch)
