Google has introduced new AI features for the Chrome web browser, including the ability to search through your browsing history using plain language. This feature resembles Microsoft’s Recall but operates at the browser level.
For example, you can type a question like “What was that ice cream shop I visited last week?” into the search history. Chrome will then sift through your history to find relevant sites and suggest the best match as the “AI Best Match.”
Google emphasizes that this feature is optional and can be disabled in settings. It also does not include data from incognito mode.
While this feature is potentially useful, concerns around privacy and security, similar to those faced by Recall, remain. Google states that the feature is powered by its latest AI and Gemini models, but it’s unclear if it tracks every site you visit or allows excluding sensitive sites.
It is also not clear if Google AI understands contextual information, such as the content of websites you visit, and can provide answers based on that context.
The update will be available for free in the U.S. in the upcoming weeks.
Additionally, Google is introducing new Google Lens features to the Chrome desktop app. Users can now utilize the Google Lens icon in the address bar to interact with images and videos, enabling tasks like shopping, solving equations, or identifying objects within visuals.
Google mentions that users may receive AI overviews as responses in certain scenarios.
