Google is adding side-by-side browsing to AI Mode in Chrome, letting U.S. desktop users open webpages next to the AI panel without losing their search context.
Side-by-Side Browsing on Desktop
Clicking a link inside an AI Mode response on Chrome desktop now opens the webpage in a split view alongside the AI panel. Users can visit the page, read its content, and ask AI Mode follow-up questions in the same window without switching back.
Google uses the example of a user searching for a coffee maker. They can click through to a product page, compare details and read reviews on that page, and continue asking AI Mode about other options without switching tabs or restarting the conversation. The update removes the toggle between AI results and source pages that the previous design required.
The features are available in the United States, with additional regions planned. Google detailed all three updates in a blog post by Robby Stein, VP of Product for Google Search, and Mike Torres, VP of Product for Chrome.
Searching Across Open Tabs
AI Mode in Chrome can now search across recently opened tabs on both desktop and mobile. Users can combine multiple inputs into a single query, pulling in open tabs alongside images and files like PDFs.
According to Google, a student with class notes, lecture slides, and a research paper open in separate tabs can pull all three into one AI Mode query and get a combined summary. The feature treats Chrome's open tabs as a searchable context layer for AI Mode rather than requiring users to copy and paste content between windows.
Canvas and Image Tools
A new plus menu in Chrome gives AI Mode users access to Canvas and image creation tools. Google says this extends AI Mode beyond text-based answers into visual outputs.
How AI Mode Got Here
Google launched AI Mode as a Search Labs experiment in early 2025 and rolled it out to all U.S. users later that year. The feature uses Gemini to generate conversational, multi-step answers inside Google Search.
Since launch, Google has added a homepage button, made links more visible in responses, connected personal intelligence features to Gmail, Calendar, and Maps, introduced agentic capabilities for restaurant booking and event tickets, and launched keywordless ads. Google also launched Auto Browse in Chrome for multi-step tasks, and added AI-powered features to the browser earlier this year.
This update embeds AI Mode into the browser itself rather than keeping it within the Search tab. The AI panel and the source page now share a single Chrome window.
Competitive Context
Microsoft's Copilot Mode in Edge offers a structurally similar split-screen experience with an AI panel alongside the browsing window. OpenAI is folding its browsing capabilities into the ChatGPT superapp. Perplexity's Comet browser is free on all platforms.
Google's approach is closest to Microsoft's. Both companies are layering AI into their existing browsers rather than building dedicated AI browsers. The difference is that Google controls both the search engine and the browser, allowing AI Mode to connect the query layer and the browsing layer in a way Edge and Copilot cannot replicate through Bing.
Recap
What is Chrome AI Mode side-by-side browsing?
Chrome AI Mode side-by-side browsing is a feature that opens webpages in a split view alongside the AI Mode panel on desktop. According to Google, users can click a link inside an AI Mode response, visit the page, and continue asking follow-up questions without losing their search context or switching tabs.
Can AI Mode in Chrome search across open tabs?
Yes. AI Mode in Chrome can now search across recently opened tabs on both desktop and mobile. Google says users can combine multiple inputs into a single query, pulling in open tabs alongside images and files like PDFs to use as context for AI Mode responses.
Where is Chrome AI Mode side-by-side browsing available?
The side-by-side browsing feature and other AI Mode updates in Chrome are currently available in the United States. Google says it plans to expand to additional regions but has not announced specific markets or a timeline.
