Google rolled out three new artificial intelligence (AI) features for its Chrome browser, including support for Mac users, the company said Thursday. Powered by Google’s latest AI and Gemini models, the new AI features in Chrome aim to make it easier to search visually, compare products and easily return to websites you’ve visited.
“We’re making it even easier to search what you see with the power of Google Lens, compare products across multiple tabs and rediscover sites from your browser history,” wrote Parisa Tabriz, Google vice president, Chrome.
Google adds 3 new AI search features to Chrome browser
Google introduced Thursday’s new updates to Chrome in a blog post. We summarize them below. And by the way, here’s what you can expect from Apple’s Safari browser in iOS 18, including Smarter Reader mode, design tweaks and a new Video viewer.
Google Lens integration for desktop
The first feature brings Google Lens capabilities directly to the desktop version of Chrome, including Macs. Users can now select the Google Lens icon in the address bar or access it through the right-click or three-dot menu. This allows for easy visual searches without leaving the current tab.
On Macs, for example, users can click or drag over any area of a webpage to initiate a search. Results appear in a side panel, where users can refine their search or ask follow-up questions. In the U.S., some queries may generate an AI Overview, summarizing relevant information from across the web.
Tab Compare for product research
Photo: Google
Tab Compare, set to launch in the U.S. in the coming weeks, will be available for Mac users as well. This feature uses AI to generate an overview of products from multiple open tabs. It presents the information in a single, easy-to-read comparison table.
For users researching products like Bluetooth speakers, Chrome will offer to create a comparison table by showing a suggestion next to the open tabs. The table will include essential details such as product specifications, features, prices and ratings to help streamline the decision-making process.
AI-powered history search
Photo: Google
The third feature, also rolling out in the U.S., enhances Chrome’s history search capabilities. Users can now search their browsing history using natural language queries. For example, typing “What was that ice cream shop I looked at last week?” will prompt Chrome to display relevant pages from the user’s browsing history.
Mac users will have the option to enable or disable this feature in their settings. Google emphasizes that this feature will not include any browsing data from incognito mode, ensuring user privacy.
As AI technology continues to evolve, Chrome users can expect further enhancements to their browsing experience in the future, Google said.