Chrome as AI coworker

Google is turning Chrome into a workplace AI agent that can carry out multi-step tasks inside the browser, not just answer questions. (techcrunch.com) Google announced the push on April 22 as part of its Cloud Next slate, aimed at Chrome Enterprise and Google Workspace customers. The new “auto browse” feature lets Gemini read the live context of open tabs and help with jobs like booking travel, entering data, scheduling meetings, and comparing information across sites. (techcrunch.com) Google said the workflows still keep a human reviewer in the loop before anything final is submitted. The first rollout is to eligible Workspace users in the United States, and admins can enable it through policy controls. (techcrunch.com) A browser is the place where employees already spend much of the day, moving between software tabs, documents, and websites. Google is pitching Chrome as that work surface, with Gemini sitting in a side panel so people can summarize, compare, draft, and act without leaving the page they are on. (cloud.google.com) (blog.google) Google started laying that groundwork in 2025, when it brought Gemini in Chrome to Workspace business and education customers with enterprise data protections. In April 2026, it added a new side-panel design and deeper links to Gmail, Calendar, YouTube, Maps, Google Shopping, and Google Flights. (cloud.google.com) (blog.google) Another piece is “Skills,” which Google launched on April 14 as saved prompts that can be rerun with one click on the current page and selected tabs. Users can open saved Skills by typing a forward slash or clicking the plus button, then edit or remix them for repeat tasks. (blog.google) Google’s enterprise sales angle is not only productivity but control. Chrome Enterprise Premium is listed at $6 per user per month and bundles data loss prevention, generative artificial intelligence policies, security insights, and controls for unsanctioned AI tools. (chromeenterprise.google) On Google’s pricing page, Chrome Enterprise Core remains free, while Premium adds the ability to take action on risky users, sensitive data transfers, and shadow AI activity. Google also says Premium can prevent accidental or intentional data leaks through browser-based data loss prevention rules. (chromeenterprise.google 1) (chromeenterprise.google 2) That gives Google a way to sell AI help and AI guardrails in the same product. In Chrome’s new pitch, the browser becomes both the place where employees delegate routine web work and the place where information security teams watch what those agents touch. (chromeenterprise.google) (techcrunch.com)