ChatGPT Chrome extension now reads and acts on open browser tabs

OpenAI has updated its ChatGPT Chrome extension to turn the AI assistant into a full browser companion that can read content from open tabs and take actions on the user’s behalf. The feature, announced on 16 October 2026, is available across all ChatGPT plans, including the free tier.

The updated extension introduces a new @chrome command that lets users point ChatGPT to specific open tabs. In Chat mode, the assistant can pull information from several tabs simultaneously, while Work mode — powered by OpenAI’s Computer Use capability — allows the tool to control tabs directly to send messages, fill out forms, download files, or group related tabs together.

How the extension works in practice

Users activate the feature by opening the ChatGPT sidebar in Chrome. The sidebar now displays the user’s full chat history alongside the current webpage. By typing @chrome followed by a query, users can ask ChatGPT to summarise the content of a specific tab, compare data across multiple open pages, or extract key details such as prices, specifications, or shipping information.

OpenAI’s examples show the extension comparing products across open tabs by size, material, shipping time, and return policies. It can also match price pages from different sellers, summarise long articles in plain language, or pull together information from several research tabs into a single overview.

Computer Use in Work mode

The Work mode within the extension goes beyond reading. Using OpenAI’s Computer Use model — currently powered by GPT-6 Astra, which the company describes as the best Computer Use model available — the tool can perform multi-step tasks across tabs. This includes filling out web forms, composing and sending messages, downloading files, and rearranging tab groups.

For Indian users who often juggle multiple tabs for tasks such as comparing e-commerce listings, researching travel options, or compiling data from government portals and news sites, this capability could reduce the need to manually copy-paste information between pages.

Datos clave

Feature	Details
Availability	All ChatGPT plans, including free tier
Key commands	@chrome for specific tabs; Chat mode for multi-tab queries; Work mode for actions
Underlying model	GPT-6 Astra for Computer Use
Use cases	Product comparison, article summarisation, form filling, file downloads, tab management

What this means for Indian users and professionals

For professionals in digital marketing, SEO, and content workflows — the core audience of Coruja — the updated extension offers practical time savings. Tasks that typically require switching between browser tabs and manually cross-referencing data can now be handled through a single chat interface.

A marketer comparing ad platform pricing across Google Ads, Meta, and LinkedIn pages, for instance, could ask ChatGPT to pull the latest cost-per-click rates from each open tab and present a comparison table. An SEO specialist researching competitor meta descriptions or page structures could have the assistant summarise patterns across multiple tabs without leaving the browser.

However, users should note that Computer Use in Work mode involves the AI controlling browser elements, which may not work perfectly on all websites, particularly those with complex JavaScript-rendered forms or CAPTCHA protections.

Privacy and data considerations

Because the extension accesses content from open browser tabs, users should be mindful of what information is visible in tabs when the sidebar is active. OpenAI’s data usage policies for ChatGPT apply, meaning conversations may be used for model training unless users opt out through their account settings. For sensitive tasks — such as accessing personal banking, government portals, or confidential work documents — users may want to close those tabs before activating the extension.

Source: The Decoder — https://the-decoder.com/chatgpt-becomes-a-full-chrome-browser-assistant-that-reads-and-acts-on-your-open-tabs/