Google announced it will integrate Gemini into Chrome for U.S. users, as it tries to fend off competition from rivals like OpenAI and Perplexity. The tech giant made this announcement on Thursday, weeks after a federal judge spared it from a forced breakup in an antitrust case.
Users will now be able to use Gemini to help them understand the contents of a webpage, work across tabs, or do more within a single tab, such as schedule a meeting or search for a YouTube video.
“We are evolving the browser to help you get the most from the web – in ways we didn’t think possible even a few years ago,” said Rick Osterloh, Google’s senior vice president in charge of platforms and devices, in a statement. “And we are doing it while keeping the speed, simplicity and safety of Chrome that so many people love.”
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Google claims the browser will see its most significant upgrade ever in the next few weeks, as AI becomes an integral part of the experience. A Gemini button will be added on the desktop browser which will open a popup where users can ask questions about, and get summaries of content in open tabs. It can also operate with content across multiple tabs. While Android phones already have Gemini operating at a system level for similar tasks, Google says the iOS Gemini app will soon be built into Chrome for Apple devices.
Google also notes it is using AI to bolster Chrome’s security. Gemini tools can already identify common tech support scams. An updated Gemini Nano model will be deployed that expands those detection features to spot fake virus alerts and phony giveaways. With an AI overhaul, Chrome’s password manager can automatically change passwords with one click. However, that seems to come with additional risks.
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Google-parent company Alphabet recently saw its fortunes grow following the judgement for its antitrust lawsuit. Investors rewarded the company after a federal judge pronounced a softer-than-feared verdict, declining to have the company broken up. U.S. District Court Judge Amit P. Mehta outlined softer-than-feared remedies for his year-ago ruling that Google maintained an illegal monopoly in search.
The DOJ had proposed stronger remedies, including that Alphabet-owned Google be forced to sell Chrome. Tech companies like Perplexity and Ecosia lined up with unsolicited bids. But that possibility has been removed. The outcome of the Justice Department’s antitrust lawsuits, while a legal setback, ultimately solidifies Google’s — and by extension, Alphabet’s — market dominance. By avoiding a forced breakup and facing softer-than-expected remedies, Google retains control of core assets such as Chrome and Android.