Google is rolling out the biggest changes to Chrome in years — here’s what’s new

Chrome is getting a major overhaul as Google rolls out a new wave of Gemini-powered features designed to make the browser more proactive.

Announced by Parisa Tabriz, VP of Chrome, the update brings deeper Gemini integration to Chrome on macOS, Windows and Chromebook Plus. Built on Google Gemini 3, the company’s latest AI model, the changes are designed to help users multitask, summarize information and complete multi-step tasks directly inside the browser.

Some features begin rolling out today (January 28), while others are already live or scheduled to arrive later this year.

Gemini gets a permanent place in Chrome

Starting today, Chrome users will see a new Gemini side panel, which keeps the AI assistant accessible no matter which tab is open.

Instead of switching between windows or opening a separate chatbot, users can keep their main webpage in focus while Gemini works alongside it — comparing products, summarizing reviews or pulling together information from multiple sites.

Google says early testers have used the side panel to manage crowded calendars, research purchases and reduce tab overload. The side panel will be available to all Gemini-in-Chrome users.

AI image editing comes directly to the browser

Fans of image generation will appreciate this one. Chrome will now offer built-in access to Nano Banana, Google’s image transformation tool. The feature allows users to modify, edit and generate images on the web using text prompts, without downloading files or opening another app.

Google positions Nano Banana as useful for creative tasks like redesign inspiration or turning research data into visual summaries. The feature rolls out today and will be available to all Gemini-in-Chrome users.

Chrome connects Gemini to Gmail, Calendar and more

Some of Chrome’s Gemini upgrades are already live. Since January 12, Connected Apps have allowed Gemini to pull context from Google services such as Gmail, Calendar, Maps, YouTube, Google Shopping and Google Flights.

That means Gemini can reference old emails, check travel details or help draft messages without leaving Chrome. These integrations are optional and can be managed through Gemini’s settings.

Personal Intelligence is coming later this year

In the coming months, Google plans to bring Personal Intelligence into Chrome — a feature that allows Gemini to remember context from past interactions to deliver more tailored responses over time.

Google says Personal Intelligence will be opt-in, with controls that let users decide which apps are connected and what context is stored. The goal is to make Chrome more proactive, though it also raises familiar questions around personalization and long-term data use.

Auto browse introduces agentic browsing — but only for paid users

The most ambitious addition is Chrome auto browse, an AI agent designed to complete multi-step tasks on a user’s behalf. The feature begins rolling out on January 28 to AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in the U.S.

Auto browse can handle tasks like researching travel options, filling out online forms, gathering documents, managing subscriptions and comparing service quotes. It pauses to ask for confirmation before sensitive actions such as purchases or sign-ins.

Google says the feature can also work with images — identifying items in photos and searching for similar products online while staying within a set budget.

To support this kind of agentic browsing, Chrome will also adopt Google’s Universal Commerce Protocol, an open standard developed with companies including Etsy, Shopify, Target and Wayfair to help AI agents interact consistently with shopping sites.

Google says Chrome’s AI is built with new security layers

Alongside the feature rollout, Google published a technical blog detailing how Chrome’s security model is evolving for AI agents.

The company identifies indirect prompt injection — where malicious web content attempts to manipulate an AI agent — as one of the biggest emerging risks. To counter that, Chrome now uses multiple layers of protection, including:

• A separate user alignment critic model that checks whether an agent’s actions match the user’s intent
• New origin restrictions that limit which sites an AI agent can read from or act on
• Mandatory user confirmations for sensitive actions like payments or logins
• Real-time detection of prompt-injection attempts and ongoing red-team testing

Google says these measures are designed to prevent unwanted actions and data leaks while keeping users in control.

Bottom line

Together, these updates signal a clear shift in how Google sees the browser’s role. Chrome is moving beyond displaying information toward actively helping users complete tasks — a direction that mirrors broader industry moves toward agentic AI.

For now, the most visible changes will be the Gemini side panel and image tools, while full agentic browsing remains limited to paid tiers. How useful — or intrusive — these features feel in everyday use may ultimately decide whether this new era of browsing sticks.

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