Google's AI Search Now Opens Web Pages In-Place, Adds Tab Integration

Google is modifying how its AI-powered search tool works within Chrome. The company's AI Mode, which appears as a sidebar alongside search results, will now open linked websites directly next to the chat interface. When a user clicks a source citation, the webpage loads in a panel beside the conversation, eliminating the need to switch tabs. This allows for immediate follow-up questions about the content on that specific page.

Beyond this contextual browsing, Google has integrated AI Mode with browser tab management. Users on desktop or mobile can now direct the AI to reference the content of their already-open tabs. By selecting the plus icon within AI Mode or the main search box, a list of recent tabs appears for selection. The assistant then formulates answers using that tab's information as its source material. Google states users can also incorporate images and files into these searches.

The feature set, which also includes capabilities for generating images from text prompts and planning travel itineraries, represents Google's ongoing effort to make its AI a more central hub for activity. The changes arrive as the company addresses publisher concerns about AI search reducing website visits by making source links more visible. These updates are currently live for users in the United States, with plans for a wider international release in the near future.

Source: The Verge