Imagine turning your chaotic browser tabs into powerful, custom-built web apps with just a few words. That's exactly what Google's new AI experiment, Disco, promises to do. Powered by Gemini, Disco introduces 'GenTabs,' a revolutionary tool that transforms your browsing sessions into interactive, task-oriented applications. But here's where it gets exciting: GenTabs doesn’t just react to what you’re viewing—it proactively suggests apps tailored to your browsing behavior, whether you’re researching, learning, or planning. For instance, if you’re studying a complex topic, GenTabs might propose a web app that visualizes the information, making it easier to grasp. Or, if you’re gathering recipes, it could help you create a personalized meal plan. And this is the part most people miss: unlike generic AI chatbots, GenTabs builds these experiences on the fly using Gemini 3, leveraging your browser data and chat history for a truly customized result. Once created, you can refine these apps using natural language commands, and all generative elements link back to their original sources for transparency.
But here's where it gets controversial: While Google has integrated Gemini into Chrome, unlike standalone AI browsers like Perplexity’s Comet or ChatGPT Atlas, Disco focuses on your entire browsing task across multiple tabs, not just the current page. This raises questions about privacy and data usage—how much of your browsing behavior is Disco analyzing, and what does Google plan to do with that information? The feature is currently available only to a select group of testers through Google Labs, with the company hinting that successful ideas could be integrated into larger Google products. GenTabs is just the 'first feature' of many planned for Disco, and users eager to try it out will need to join a waitlist, starting on macOS.
Here’s the thought-provoking question for you: As AI continues to weave itself into our browsing experiences, how much control are we willing to give up for convenience? Will tools like Disco enhance productivity, or do they cross the line into over-personalization? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Sarah Perez, a seasoned reporter at TechCrunch since 2011, brings her expertise in I.T. and tech journalism to this story. You can reach her at sarahp@techcrunch.com or via encrypted message at sarahperez.01 on Signal.
