A new way to explore the web with AI Mode in Chrome

The latest update to AI Mode in Chrome, rolled out on April 16, 2026, significantly changes how we interact with the web by making the browser “AI-native.” The focus is on ending “tab hopping” and providing a more fluid, side-by-side exploration experience.

Here’s a breakdown of the core features and how they work:

## 1. Side-by-Side Browsing

The biggest change is the split-screen interface. When you search in AI Mode and click a link, Chrome doesn’t replace your search page. Instead, it opens the website in a side-by-side view.

• Real-time Assistance: You can read a long article or watch a video on one side while asking the AI specific questions on the other (e.g., “Summarize the key takeaways” or “Where is the nearest service center for this product?”).

• Contextual Awareness: The AI “sees” the page you are currently viewing and uses that context to answer your follow-up questions more accurately.

## 2. Cross-Tab Search & Multi-Modal Input

You can now pull information from across your entire browsing session into a single AI query.

• The “Plus” Menu: By tapping the + icon in the search box, you can select open tabs, images, or PDFs from your device.

• Comparison Power: For example, if you have three different laptop reviews open in separate tabs, you can select all three and ask: “Compare the battery life and display specs of these three models based on these tabs.”

## 3. Integrated AI “Skills”

Google has introduced Skills, which are essentially “one-click tools” for your most frequent tasks.

• Reusable Prompts: You can save complex prompts (like “Rewrite this in a professional tone” or “Extract all prices from this page”) and trigger them via a forward slash (/) or the plus menu.

• Built-in Library: There is a library of pre-set Skills for productivity, shopping comparisons, and document summarization.

## 4. Advanced Reasoning with Gemini 3 Pro

AI Mode now allows you to toggle between different models:

• Fast: For quick, everyday questions.

• Pro (Gemini 3 Pro): For “heavy lifting” tasks that require deep reasoning, like analyzing legal documents or solving complex math problems.

### How to Access It

1. Desktop: Open a new tab and look for the AI Mode button below the search bar, or use the address bar shortcut.

2. Mobile (Android/iOS): Tap the search box on a New Tab page and select “AI Mode.”

3. Side Panel: You can also trigger the AI assistance panel to analyze the technical details or CSS layout of a site if you are in developer mode.

Note: These features are currently rolling out in the U.S. first, with a wider global release (including regions like India) expected in the coming weeks.