Chrome from Google is in development of a new feature that enables certain extensions to gather user data to refine AI features found within the browser. You can ask Gemini AI directly from the Chrome address bar on your desktop.
The current version of Chrome contains AI features like a revamped Google Lens Search, Tab Compare, History Search, Tab Organization, Help Me Write, and the option to customize themes via AI. These features will only work if Chrome collects certain data like your browsing history.
Data collection in the Chrome Extension
After AI-powered History Search, Google is in the process of establishing an extension API that permits particular extensions to retrieve browser data. This data incorporates information that extensions were unable to reach in the past.
The intention is to strengthen features driven by artificial intelligence in these extensions. Available in Canary, Chrome’s new flag, ‘Enables AI Data collection via extension,’ gives selected extensions permission to collect data from the browser process.
As an example, for Search Your History powered by AI, Chrome makes it clear that ‘Your searches, best matches, and their page contents are sent to Google and may be viewed by human reviewers to improve this feature.
This data might have profile-specific data that was previously out of reach for extensions. The feature may motivate developers to develop new extensions that take advantage of AI tools. Existing extensions could gain an advantage from more data availability, permitting them to either provide expanded features or perform better.
Enhancement of AI features
Google wants to refine its AI features in Chrome by allowing extensions to collect more extensive data. Such an approach does raise essential issues concerning privacy and data security, since the data could be sensitive.
If Google is to handle data properly, it must adopt powerful safeguards for the collection and responsible use of that data. In addition, the company must be forthright about the data types collected, their purposes, and the means through which users can adjust their privacy controls.
To add to this, Chrome is adding a translate screen option to Google Lens, along with a Tab declutter feature. On top of that, Task Manager and PDF Viewer are about to receive a design refresh.