GoKawiilThe Chrome browser started to feel like it’s stuck in the past as new-age rivals like Arc, Dia, and Comet kept playing with experimental features. I have loved being with Arc for that exact reason — it felt fresh while Chrome stayed unchanged.
However, Google didn’t take long to flip the situation in its favor by shipping the biggest upgrade its flagship browser has seen in a decade. Gemini living in the sidebar has proven to be a game-changer for my workflows in ways I hadn’t imagined. It has completely changed how I use Chrome entirely. There is far less tab switching, and a lot more can be done from one place.
These are the Gemini sidebar tricks in Chrome that I swear by now.
Do you use Gemini in Chrome’s sidebar? 7 votes Yes, regularly 29 % Tried it, but not much 14 % Haven't tried it yet 29 % Didn't know it existed 29 %
Handholding in multi-step workflows
At least a couple of times a week, I find myself setting up new apps, web tools, or accounts — and trying something new like that requires a bit of handholding. Without AI integration, I would constantly screenshot the window or copy entire pages and paste them into ChatGPT over and over to get answers. With the Gemini sidebar, things have been far more straightforward.
What would've otherwise taken me a couple of days of back and forth, or even a call with an expert, got done in a single evening with Gemini.
The last time I used it was when I was setting up a LinkedIn ad for the first time. I needed consistent supervision to make sure I didn’t click the wrong button or pick an option I shouldn’t have, sabotaging the entire campaign. Gemini guided me through the entire process and answered all the questions I had along the way. This would have otherwise taken me a couple of days of back and forth, or even a call with an ad expert. Instead, I got it done in a single evening.
It’s quite an understated perk that Gemini can see what you are seeing on the screen, so both of you can make decisions together.
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