I’ll admit it. I like clicking around. So, while testing Google’s new “Auto Browse” feature for Chrome, I was filled with a strange sense of loss as I watched the AI agent open browser tabs and attempt to complete digital tasks with automated clicks.
Sure, I felt some loss of control as the bot tapped away on my laptop screen. But also a kind of preemptive nostalgia for how the internet currently works, flaws and all, considering Google’s plans to fundamentally alter the user experience.
Google released Auto Browse this week to US users who subscribe to its AI Pro and AI Ultra plans. Though it's a limited release at first, Google’s core pitch appears to be an eventual reformation of the web—if the bot successfully earns user trust. A web that’s ruled by automated browser bots and designed to cater to their needs, while clicking on the behalf of humans, could look alien compared to today’s user experience. For now, though, the bots seem too messy to be trusted.
Hands Off … Mostly
Google’s initial examples of how to use Auto Browse, shared in a press briefing, included reserving tickets, shopping for clothes, and planning vacations. On Wednesday afternoon I opened my Chrome browser and clicked the little sparkle icon that summons Google's Gemini chatbot to pop up in the sidebar. That’s also how you access Auto Browse; since I subscribe to the $20-a-month tier, I assumed that I’d have access to it on launch day.
When I asked Gemini in the Chrome sidebar to get started on its first task by typing a command into the prompt bar, it pantomimed doing the deed without actually taking control of my browser. The bot said, “You’ll see me opening and closing tabs,” as it had “taken over the navigation” in my browser. No actual clicks happened.
Courtesy of Google
Frustrated, I logged out of my Google account and did a refresh on the browser. After taking those additional steps, I was actually able to access the tool through my account. The option to turn on Auto Browse appeared as an opt-in choice via a pop-up. If you don’t see this, you can also check to see if you have Auto Browse available by going into your settings and finding the “Let Chrome browse for you” toggle. When it’s activated, any prompts you send in the Gemini sidebar with a direct ask will automatically trigger Auto Browser to start clicking.