Dorothy

Google has begun rolling out a new AI-powered “Auto Browse” feature in Chrome, available to users subscribed to its AI Pro and AI Ultra tiers in the United States. The feature leverages Google’s Gemini generative AI model to perform multi-step online tasks autonomously, such as researching travel options, scheduling appointments, filling out forms, and managing subscriptions. The tool is accessed via a sidebar in Chrome and operates as an “agentic” system, meaning it can act on behalf of the user without requiring constant input. While all sources confirm the feature’s availability to paying subscribers and its core functionality, they differ in framing. The Verge, TechCrunch, and Wired emphasize the transformative — even disruptive — nature of the tool, with Wired describing it as putting “generative AI behind the wheel,” suggesting a shift toward autonomous web interaction. These outlets highlight the feature’s potential to reduce user effort and redefine how people navigate the internet. In contrast, Ars Technica offers a more restrained account, noting the feature’s rollout while also mentioning existing “limits,” without editorializing on its broader implications. This reflects a difference in tone: the left-leaning and tech-focused outlets frame Auto Browse as an innovative leap, while Ars Technica presents it as a functional update under development.