New web browsers are integrating generative AI directly into their interface to assist users with tasks like summarizing content and answering questions. Brian X. Chen of The New York Times recently tested a pre-release version of one such browser, an app called Dia from the start-up The Browser Company of New York.
According to the report, Dia allows users to open a chatbot in a window parallel to the current webpage. This lets them ask questions about an article, get a summary of a video without watching it, or receive help with proofreading. The browser uses multiple AI models, including those behind ChatGPT and Gemini, and selects the most suitable one for each query. This approach is designed to make using AI more seamless.
Other companies are also developing similar products. The start-up Perplexity announced an AI browser called Comet, and reports suggest OpenAI may also release a browser. The New York Times has sued OpenAI for copyright infringement related to its AI systems.
Chen noted that while Dia was often helpful, it was sometimes incorrect, a common issue with AI known as “hallucination”. The Browser Company also stated that user data is shared with its AI partners to process requests, raising privacy considerations. The company plans to offer Dia on a subscription basis, with costs depending on usage frequency and a free option for light use.
