AI Browsers Challenge Chrome and Safari

The browser contest is shifting from control of search toward control of AI agents that can act for users online. Google’s Chrome and Apple’s Safari remain the dominant platforms, but generative AI, contextual awareness and task automation are turning browsers into digital assistants capable of researching products, managing schedules and completing transactions. The change raises the stakes for user data, platform loyalty and the companies seeking to mediate how people interact with the web.

TechCrunch’s July 3, 2026 review highlighted a widening field of challengers. Perplexity launched Comet in July 2025 with tools for summarizing email, browsing pages and sending calendar invitations; access is tied to its $200-a-month Max plan, with a waitlist also available. Opera’s Neon, introduced in May 2025, can research, shop and generate code, including while users are offline. It is available on macOS and Windows for $19.90 a month.