Technology

Google's Gemini in Chrome: The Dawn of a New AI Assistant Era?

2025-05-25

Author: Mei

This morning, I dove into the vibrant world of Google’s new Gemini integration within Chrome, a revolutionary tool that places an AI-powered assistant right at your fingertips. Rather than navigating to a separate web app, you simply click the Gemini icon in the top-right corner of your browser. What’s truly groundbreaking is that this assistant can "see" what’s on your screen as you browse.

However, while Gemini’s presence is exciting, it often left me wishing for more capabilities. Currently, only AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers can access the early version of Gemini in Chrome, using either the Beta, Dev, or Canary editions of the browser.

I kicked things off by utilizing Gemini to summarize articles from The Verge and even track down gaming news, including the latest highlights from Nintendo and updates on the highly anticipated Elden Ring film. However, keep in mind that Gemini’s ability is limited to what you make visible on your screen — for example, to summarize comments, they had to be displayed first.

Gemini isn’t just a silent partner, either. With the handy "Live" feature, which allows voice queries, it’s perfect for multitasking. I found it particularly impressive while watching a YouTube tutorial, where I asked about a specific tool in use. Gemini pinpointed a nail gun with accuracy, and even identified components on a motherboard in another video.

One of my absolute favorite features was Gemini’s ability to extract recipes directly from YouTube videos, saving me the hassle of jotting them down or searching for links. It even assisted with shopping by identifying waterproof bags during an Amazon search.

Yet, it wasn't all smooth sailing. When I inquired about MrBeast's location in a video exploring ancient Mayan cities, Gemini responded that it lacked real-time data, but later reiterated the location mentioned in the video description, Mexico. Similarly, when I asked for a link to buy specific tools, it failed to provide real-time product listings. Still, it suggested alternative products within moments.

At times, Gemini’s responses felt lengthy, rather unwieldy for the compact Chrome pop-up. While there’s an option to extend the window, some of its answers were too verbose for quick queries, which somewhat undermines the efficiency AI promises. It also had a tendency to ask repetitive follow-up questions that could become tiresome.

Despite these quirks, there’s undeniable potential for Google to expand Gemini’s capabilities in Chrome beyond mere Q&A. Google envisions its AI becoming more “agentic,” taking on tasks for users. I found myself fantasizing about how convenient it would be to have Gemini summarize a restaurant menu and even place an order—a capability it currently lacks.

And the future looks bright. With Project Mariner's forthcoming “Agent Mode,” expected to allow Gemini to juggle up to ten tasks simultaneously and conduct web searches, it hints at a world where Gemini in Chrome could become a truly indispensable assistant.