I ditched most of my Chrome extensions after Gemini could do their job
Android Police 2026-07-16 12:00:15
Context: Ben Khalesi, an Android journalist, has found that Google's Gemini AI tool integrated into Chrome can perform tasks that previously required multiple extensions, making many of them redundant. He has started using Gemini to summarize articles, fill in forms, and even generate images, significantly reducing his reliance on extensions. This shift has streamlined his browsing experience and raised questions about the future of extension developers.
Key Facts
- Ben Khalesi, an Android journalist with a background in IT and AI, has been using Gemini in Google Chrome to replace many of his previously installed extensions, finding it can summarize articles, fill in forms, and generate images.
- Gemini can read the active tab and answer questions without sharing browsing history with external developers, although it may struggle with pages that lazy-load content.
- The AI tool can summarize a batch of open tabs, allowing users to digest information more efficiently, and can even integrate with NotebookLM to turn summaries into podcasts or narrated videos.
- Gemini's capabilities have made many types of extensions, such as those for writing assistance, price comparison, and coupon applications, redundant, with some exceptions like password managers and accessibility helpers.
- Auto browse, a feature within Gemini, can find the best prices and apply coupon codes, but is currently only available in the US, requires a Google AI Pro or Ultra subscription, and has daily request limits.