ChatGPT Chrome extension gains tab access and sidebar controls

OpenAI’s ChatGPT Chrome extension now allows the AI to view and interact with open browser tabs when users tag Chrome in the web or desktop app. A demo video shows a user asking ChatGPT to compare three open tabs about sofas, illustrating how the AI can synthesize information across tabs in real time.

The update includes sample queries such as using details from an event brief to fill out a registration form, adding vendors from open tabs to a comparison sheet with pricing and features, and drafting an email to a contractor based on open tabs about home renovation services.

ChatGPT’s sidebar mode has also been updated to provide "the full power of ChatGPT" alongside conversation history in Chat or Work modes, enabling users to leverage the AI without leaving the current page.

The extension now enables ChatGPT Work to "control" Chrome tabs for tasks like sending messages, filling out forms, downloading files, and organizing or grouping open tabs—features that echo Google’s Gemini-powered "auto browse" functionality.

OpenAI’s changes reflect a broader trend of integrating AI assistants more deeply into browser workflows, positioning ChatGPT as a tool for managing and acting on live browser data rather than just a chat interface.