Chrome AI Mode Update

AI

📝 Key Points of This Article

• Google has announced an update to the “AI mode” search feature in its Chrome browser.
• When a link is clicked, the webpage now appears side-by-side with “AI mode,” allowing users to compare details from other websites while maintaining the search context for follow-up questions within AI mode.
• A new feature has been added to “AI mode” that allows users to include currently open tabs in their search scope.

On Thursday, April 16, 2026, Google announced an update to the AI-powered search feature “AI mode” in its Chrome browser.

In the updated “AI mode” for desktop Chrome, clicking a link will open the webpage side-by-side with AI mode. This allows users to access and compare information from other websites while still being able to ask follow-up questions in AI mode without losing the search context. In short, it eliminates the need to constantly switch back and forth between multiple open tabs when researching.

For example, if you find a coffee maker that meets your criteria using “AI mode,” you can open the retailer’s site directly next to it and ask specific questions like, “Is this product easy to clean?” Because “AI mode” retrieves information from the entire web—not just the page you are viewing—it makes the purchasing decision process much smoother.

Furthermore, a new “plus” menu has been introduced to the new tab screens and within “AI mode” on both desktop and mobile versions of Chrome. This feature allows users to select multiple currently open tabs and add them as context for their search. It is also possible to include not just tabs, but also files such as images and PDFs.

This enables more advanced, context-aware searches. For instance, you could open several websites related to hiking trails and ask, “Tell me about other child-friendly trails similar to these,” or upload class notes or research paper PDFs to request further explanation of complex concepts. The new “plus” menu also provides access to AI tools like “Canvas” and image generation.

The updated “AI mode” for Chrome announced today is initially rolling out in the United States, with plans to expand to other regions in the near future.

Source: Google