Google embeds a persistent AI sidebar in Chrome and pilots agentic web automation

Google has taken a decisive step to fold advanced assistant capabilities directly into Chrome by launching a persistent sidebar powered by its conversational model and by experimenting with agents that can act on users’ behalf. Rather than keeping the helper in a floating window, the new panel remains visible as you browse and treats related tabs as a single context, which is intended to simplify comparisons and multi-step research. The company is widening device support beyond desktop systems to include certain Chromebook hardware enrolled in a Plus program, reflecting a staged expansion strategy. Over time the assistant will be permitted to draw on a user’s search history, messages, photos and video to answer personal queries or draft communications without forcing people to switch apps. An image-editing integration has also been added so users can modify on-screen pictures with content discovered while browsing. The most consequential capability is an agentic auto-browse feature that can traverse sites, fill forms and attempt purchases, though it is designed to pause for explicit approval when handling sensitive actions like logins or payments. Early internal testing reportedly showed practical use cases such as scheduling, pulling together tax documents and automating expense workflows, but browser agents still struggle with inconsistent site layouts and ambiguous user intent, which limits reliability outside controlled demos. By restricting initial access to paying subscribers in the U.S., Google can observe behavior and refine controls before wider release, but that choice also narrows early feedback and leaves broader usability questions unanswered. Google asserts that saved passwords and card details remain protected from model exposure, yet independent verification and continuous monitoring will be essential to validate that promise at scale. For competing vendors that launched AI-first browsing experiences, Chrome’s enhanced assistant raises the competitive bar by integrating similar conveniences into a familiar, widely used product. At the same time the combination of account-level data access and autonomous actions will attract regulatory and privacy scrutiny, since agents operating across domains introduce new consent and auditability challenges. If Google succeeds in delivering dependable automation without compromising credentials or personal data, the feature set could cement a new baseline for mainstream browsers; failure to hit those targets would slow adoption and invite tighter oversight.