Editorial illustration for Google adds Gemini auto‑browse to Chrome; Moltbot gains always‑on AI users
Chrome's Gemini AI Now Browses Web Autonomously
Google adds Gemini auto‑browse to Chrome; Moltbot gains always‑on AI users
Why does this matter? Because the latest LWiAI Podcast pulls together three developments that are already reshaping how developers and end users think about AI‑driven browsing and continuous assistance. While Google rolls out Gemini’s “auto browse” feature directly into Chrome—a move reported by The Verge at the four‑minute mark—the open‑source community is watching Moltbot’s surge in “always‑on” deployments, a trend Ars Technica flagged just minutes later.
Here’s the thing: those two stories sit beside Google’s own Genie 3 “World Building” experiment, which the show highlights at the thirteen‑minute point. The episode strings them together, moving from a quick banter intro to a deeper dive on each tool’s promise and perils. Listeners get a timeline, a sense of pacing, and a chance to hear the hosts weigh the trade‑offs.
The following excerpt lays out that timeline in plain timestamps, letting you jump straight to the segment that interests you most.
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Timestamps: (00:00:10) Intro / Banter Tools & Apps (00:04:09) Google adds Gemini AI-powered 'auto browse' to Chrome | The Verge (00:07:11) Users flock to open source Moltbot for always-on AI, despite major risks - Ars Technica (00:13:25) Google Brings Genie 3 'World Building' Experiment to AI Ultra
Timestamps: (00:00:10) Intro / Banter Tools & Apps (00:04:09) Google adds Gemini AI-powered 'auto browse' to Chrome | The Verge (00:07:11) Users flock to open source Moltbot for always-on AI, despite major risks - Ars Technica (00:13:25) Google Brings Genie 3 'World Building' Experiment to AI Ultra Subscribers - CNET (00:16:17) OpenAI's ChatGPT translator challenges Google Translate | The Verge (00:18:27) OpenAI launches Prism, a new AI workspace for scientists | TechCrunch Applications & Business (00:22:55) AI chip startup Ricursive hits $4B valuation 2 months after launch (00:24:38) AI Startup Recursive in Funding Talks at $4 Billion Valuation - Bloomberg (00:27:30) Flapping Airplanes and the promise of research-driven AI | TechCrunch Projects & Open Source (00:35:34) Qwen3-Max-Thinking debuts with focus on hard math, code (00:38:26) China's Moonshot releases a new open-source model Kimi K2.5 and a coding agent | TechCrunch (00:46:00) Ai2 launches family of open-source AI developer agents that adapt to any codebase - SiliconANGLE (00:47:46) Tiny startup Arcee AI built a 400B-parameter open source LLM from scratch to best Meta's Llama Research & Advancements (00:52:53) Post-LayerNorm Is Back: Stable, ExpressivE, and Deep (00:58:00) [2601.19897] Self-Distillation Enables Continual Learning (01:03:04) [2601.20802] Reinforcement Learning via Self-Distillation (01:05:58) Teaching Models to Teach Themselves: Reasoning at the Edge of Learnability Policy & Safety (01:09:13) Amodei, Hoffman Join Tech Workers Decrying Minnesota Violence - Bloomberg
Google’s new Gemini auto‑browse lands in Chrome for pro and ultra tiers. It doesn’t replace manual browsing yet. Does the feature truly streamline web tasks, or will users balk at privacy concerns?
The Verge notes the agent can navigate pages without prompting, a step beyond traditional extensions. Yet, the rollout’s impact remains unclear; adoption rates have yet to be measured.
Meanwhile, open‑source Moltbot draws users seeking an always‑on AI companion, despite Ars Technica flagging significant risks. Continuous listening raises questions about data security and user consent. The community’s enthusiasm suggests a demand for persistent assistants, but the long‑term implications are still unknown.
OpenAI’s parallel moves—ChatGPT Translator and Prism—signal an expansion beyond its core business, though the podcast offers no detail on uptake. Google also teases Genie 3’s “world building” experiment for AI Ultra members, hinting at more immersive experiences.
In short, the week delivered fresh tools and bold experiments, yet practical value and safety considerations have yet to be fully assessed.
Further Reading
- Google Chrome rolling out Gemini 'auto browse' to AI Pro - 9to5Google
- The new era of browsing: Putting Gemini to work in Chrome - Google Blog
- Ora Chrome naviga da solo: ecco cosa può fare 'auto browse' - Tom's Hardware Italy
- Auto browse di Chrome: cos'è e come funziona - Libero Tecnologia
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Common Questions Answered
How does Google's new Auto Browse feature work in Chrome?
Auto Browse is an AI-powered capability in Chrome that can perform multi-step tasks automatically when prompted by users. [theverge.com](https://www.theverge.com/news/869731/google-gemini-ai-chrome-auto-browse) reports that the feature can handle tasks like researching hotel and flight costs, scheduling appointments, filling out online forms, and managing subscriptions, all powered by Gemini AI.
Who can access the new Chrome Auto Browse feature?
The Auto Browse feature is currently available only to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the United States. [9to5google.com](https://9to5google.com/2026/01/28/chrome-gemini-auto-browse) notes that there is a daily limit to how many agentic actions users can take with this new AI browsing capability.
What unique capabilities does Gemini in Chrome's Auto Browse offer?
Gemini can perform advanced tasks like identifying items in photos, finding similar products, adding items to cart, and applying discount codes while staying within a specified budget. [cnet.com](https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/google-chrome-gets-new-gemini-updates/) highlights that the feature can also use Google Password Manager to auto-fill credentials and help with complex multi-step workflows across different websites.