Chrome Evolves: Agentic AI and “Nano Banana” Image Magic Arrive

Google has just supercharged Chrome with a major Gemini-powered update, transforming the world’s most popular browser into a proactive AI assistant. This 2026 refresh introduces three flagship features—Auto Browse, Nano Banana image editing, and a persistent AI Side Panel—designed to move AI from a chat box into the core of your web experience.

The update, built on the high-speed Gemini 3 model, is now rolling out for Chrome on Windows, MacOS, and Chromebook Plus.

1. Auto Browse: The Rise of Agentic AI

The most “futuristic” addition is Auto Browse, an agentic AI tool currently available for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers. Unlike standard chatbots that just provide information, Auto Browse takes action on your behalf.

• Multimodal Tasks: If you see an outfit in a photo, Auto Browse can identify the items, find them online across multiple stores, apply the best discount codes, and add them to your cart.
• Administrative Heavy Lifting: Testers have used it to gather tax documents, compare flight costs across complex date ranges, and even renew driver’s licenses.
• Security Integration: With user permission, it integrates with Chrome Password Manager to log into services automatically.
• Human-in-the-Loop: For sensitive steps like final payments or social media posting, the AI is designed to pause and hand control back to the user.

2. Nano Banana: In-Browser Image Manipulation

Google’s latest image model, Nano Banana, is now baked directly into the browser. This removes the “download-upload” friction that has plagued creative workflows.

• Targeted Transformations: You can right-click any image in a browser tab and use the AI side panel to change it. For example, you can tell Chrome to “change the sofa in this living room photo to a blue velvet one” or “turn this data table into a clean infographic.”
• Zero-Friction Editing: The edits happen right in the window, leveraging Nano Banana’s ability to maintain character and object consistency across transformations.

3. The Persistent AI Side Panel

Chrome has replaced its previous floating AI windows with a permanent Side Panel. This allows for true multitasking: you can keep your primary research open in the main tab while Gemini summarizes product reviews or coordinates calendar invites in the sidebar.

Note on Privacy: Using the AI Side Panel requires a one-time opt-in, as it necessitates sending URL and browser data to Google to provide contextually aware assistance.

The Strategy: “Personal Intelligence”

This update is a cornerstone of Google’s Personal Intelligence initiative. By connecting Chrome to your Workspace (Gmail, Calendar, Maps), Gemini can now understand your life’s context—knowing, for example, your children’s school break dates when you ask it to find holiday deals in a separate tab.