Google Chrome Is No Longer Just a Browser. Now It's a Personal Assistant With Hallucinations

Google is continuing its aggressive push to integrate AI into its products, and with Chrome version 145, users are discovering more than just a cosmetic update—it's a completely new way to interact with Gemini.

Previously, using the AI in the address bar meant clicking a special button on the right. Now, the logic has shifted. A new "+" icon has appeared on the left side of the input field, opening a menu packed with all of Gemini's capabilities. It's a design choice clearly borrowed from the web version of google.com/ai, which uses the exact same navigation. The real magic, however, is hidden behind this menu. Instead of simple searches, users now get access to a whole arsenal of tools.

"Recent tabs" is arguably the most useful feature for anyone juggling dozens of open pages. Gemini can now analyze the content of all your recently opened tabs. Imagine this: you're reading five different articles on the same topic, and the AI digs through them to provide a concise summary or answer your questions, saving you from having to re-read everything. Then there's "Deep Search"—an advanced search mode that, as the name suggests, digs much deeper than standard search results. Instead of just a list of links, the AI tries to understand the context of your query and unearth information that might actually be useful, even if you couldn't quite articulate the question perfectly.

Also worth a special mention is "Nano Banana," a tool for generating images directly within the browser. It runs locally, meaning your data isn't sent to Google's servers. For anyone who needs a quick image but doesn't want to fire up heavy graphics software or pay for a Midjourney subscription, this is a real lifesaver.

Overall, the interface has become noticeably more user-friendly. Now, whenever you select any option, the address bar expands into a full-fledged input field with prompts. Back in January, Google rolled out a major Chrome update, introducing an "autopilot" for browsing websites and a side panel for Gemini. Now, the AI has made its way to the very heart of the browser—the address bar, a tool users interact with hundreds of times a day.

The old "AI Mode" button on the right hasn't gone anywhere—it still works just fine. But now, users have a choice: quick access via the plus sign on the left, or the familiar way on the right. Google is also testing other innovations; for instance, a tool called "Canvas" was recently spotted in a similar menu on the company's website. It's likely that future versions of Chrome will see even deeper integration with AI.

So, have you tried the new feature yet? What do you find more useful: the ability to analyze your open tabs, or generating images with Nano Banana? Drop your thoughts in the comments!