Gemini in Chrome Expands to UK Users With New AI Tools

Gemini in Chrome is expanding to desktop users in the United Kingdom, bringing Google’s browser-based AI tools beyond the United States.

Google introduced the broader Gemini in Chrome experience in January. Many features have remained limited to US users for several months, while an iOS release is scheduled for next month.

Gemini side panel arrives in Chrome

Gemini will appear inside a permanent side panel, allowing users to access the assistant without leaving their current webpage.

Users can ask Gemini to summarize lengthy or complex pages. The assistant can also compare product reviews, specifications, and prices across several open tabs.

This setup could reduce the need to copy information between websites or open a separate AI chatbot.

Nano Banana 2 adds image editing tools

The UK rollout also includes Google’s Nano Banana 2 image-generation and editing technology.

Users can enter text prompts to create, modify, or transform images directly through the Gemini side panel. The tools work without requiring a separate image editor or another browser tab.

Gemini connects with Google services

Gemini in Chrome can work with Gmail, Google Calendar, YouTube, Maps, Photos, Shopping, and Flights.

For example, users can ask Gemini to find information from an email, check upcoming calendar events, or locate directions through Google Maps. It can also draft confirmation emails without requiring users to open Gmail separately.

Chrome will show security prompts before Gemini performs sensitive actions. Users must approve certain requests before the assistant accesses protected information or completes transactions.

Google has also added protections designed to limit prompt injection attacks from malicious webpage content.

How to disable Gemini in Chrome

Users who do not want the new features can open Chrome’s settings and select the AI innovations section.

Turning off Gemini in Chrome disables the side panel. Users can also disable page-content sharing to prevent the assistant from analyzing open websites.

Disabling on-device AI in the system settings stops Chrome from running the Gemini Nano model in the background.

How to remove the Ask Gemini shortcut

Users can enter chrome://flags in the address bar and search for the AI mode Omnibox entrypoint option.

Setting the flag to Disabled removes the experimental entry point. Users may also need to open Chrome’s site-search settings and deactivate Gemini there.

The expansion follows other AI experiments inside the browser. Chrome is testing an Ask Gemini shortcut for selected text, while Chrome for Android’s AI Mode can now pull answers from recently opened tabs. We also previously reported that AI Mode is coming to the Chrome toolbar.