M.G. Siegler from Spyglass writes about his experience switching from Arc browser to the new AI browser Dia, citing its seamless AI integration as a key advantage. The Browser Company, which previously created the Arc browser for power users, has shifted focus to Dia to reach mainstream audiences.
Dia resembles Chrome in appearance but features an AI assistant built into the browser’s interface. Users can query information across multiple open tabs simultaneously and request summaries of web content without switching between applications. The browser uses multiple AI models, primarily GPT-4o combined with Google’s Gemini Flash.
Google is testing its own AI integration with Gemini in Chrome’s beta versions, but early reports suggest the implementation feels clunky compared to Dia’s native approach. Chrome’s massive user base of over three billion people limits Google’s ability to make fundamental changes quickly.
Other companies are developing competing AI browsers. Perplexity is testing a browser called “Comet” while OpenAI is reportedly working on its own browser project. These companies recognize that browser control provides deeper integration possibilities than browser extensions can offer.
The competition highlights a broader shift toward AI-native web browsing experiences, potentially marking the beginning of new browser wars focused on artificial intelligence capabilities rather than traditional features.