Google begins testing Gemini AI shortcut on Chrome’s beta version ‘in select areas’

Google has added a shortcut to the beta version of its Chrome internet browser that allows users to easily and more quickly access its Gemini generative artificial intelligence platform.

The under-the-radar addition, first spotted by Windows Report, apparently allows users to send queries directly to Gemini through Chrome Canary’s omnibox, or the URL bar.

Chrome Canary is the version of the popular browser for developers that lets them test features being planned or for feedback purposes.

The report noted, however, that the shortcut is available only in select areas.

Chrome Canary users can activate the Gemini shortcut through the browser’s settings. However, any queries typed in the URL just took the page to the Gemini AI website, without any results on requests. It is unclear if results indeed show up in other regions.

Google last week rebranded its generative AI platform Bard as Gemini and launched its top-tier Gemini Advanced, as it seeks to challenge OpenAI’s ChatGPT and grab a bigger share of the global generative AI market.

Gemini is also the name of Google’s suite of large language models powering Bard that was introduced in December – at the time the platform’s biggest update. The Gemini 1.0 model came in three sizes – nano, pro and ultra – and can run on everything from resource-intensive data centres to small mobile devices.

Gemini Advanced features the Alphabet’s subsidiary’s largest model Gemini Ultra 1.0, which it describes as its “most capable” AI model.

It is “far more capable for reasoning, following instructions, coding and creative collaboration”, it “can understand, explain and generate high-quality code in many programming languages” and is designed for highly complex tasks.

It is unclear how long the testing phase will last and how soon Google plans to make the Gemini shortcut generally available for the stable Chrome browser.

The addition of a Gemini shortcut on Chrome’s omnibox “will significantly impact how people interact with Gemini, making it easier to send questions straight to the chat box without opening a tab and navigating to the Gemini website”, Windows Report said in an email to The National.

Chrome is the world’s most popular web browser, with nearly two thirds of the market share, according to Statista.