Since late June 2026, Google has been rolling out a feature that changes how people use their phones: “auto browse” in Chrome on Android. The idea is simple to describe but has real weight behind it: let the Gemini AI browse the web on your behalf, clicking, filling out forms, and completing tasks while you do something else.

For a small or medium business in Trois-Rivières, in the Mauricie region, or anywhere else in Quebec, and for any phone user really, the promise is tempting: save time on repetitive tasks. But it also raises real questions about security and control. Here’s what’s been announced, what it actually changes, and how to prepare without putting yourself at risk.

1. What Google announced

Google is rolling out “Gemini in Chrome” with the auto browse feature built directly into Android. According to the official announcement, the rollout began in late June 2026 for users in the United States, on devices running Android 12 or newer, with at least 4 GB of RAM and the system language set to US English.

• The feature is built into Android itself, not a separate app to download or an extension.
• It’s arriving first on Pixel 10 and Galaxy S26 devices, with an expansion planned to reach around 200 million devices by the end of 2026.
• It runs on Gemini 3.1, the model Google describes as its most capable to date.
• Auto browse itself is limited to AI Pro and Ultra subscribers; basic features like page questions and summaries don’t require a subscription.

In other words, it isn’t available in Canada yet, and for now it’s aimed at English-language users. That gives businesses and users in Quebec a head start to prepare before the feature reaches us.

2. “Auto browse,” in plain terms

A regular browser waits for your clicks. With auto browse, you describe a task and the agent handles the steps for you, right in the browser, while you keep an eye on what’s happening. Google gives some concrete examples: booking a parking spot, updating an order, filling out a long and tedious form.

• Comparing options across several sites and putting together a shopping cart.
• Filling in repetitive fields (contact info, addresses) without retyping everything.
• Working through multiple steps of the same online process in sequence.

An important point for security: Google says the agent asks for confirmation before sensitive actions, like a payment. That human checkpoint is exactly the kind of safeguard worth keeping in place at all times.

3. Google isn’t alone: the race for AI browsers

Google didn’t invent this category, it’s just bringing it to the mainstream. Over the past year, the battle among “agentic browsers,” the ones that act on your behalf, has been heating up among the big AI players.

• OpenAI launched Atlas, a browser with an “Agent Mode” that carries out multi-step tasks.
• Perplexity raised about 200 million US dollars, at a valuation close to 20 billion, in early June 2026, to push its Comet browser, which it offers for free worldwide.

These tools share a telling common thread: the agent acts inside your already-open sessions and aims to complete purchases on your behalf. That’s exactly what makes them powerful, and just as risky to leave unsupervised.

4. What this means for your business in Quebec

For a small or medium business, the appeal is real: less time spent on low-value office tasks like data entry, bookings, or order follow-ups. Used well, a browsing agent can lighten your team’s administrative load.

• Cut down on repetitive manual web tasks.
• Speed up online processes with suppliers and portals.
• Standardize certain operations to avoid mistakes and oversights.

Still, useful automation in a business setting doesn’t happen on its own. At OKTO Solutions, we help local businesses choose the right tools and roll them out safely: see our managed IT services.

5. Risks worth watching before you try it

An agent that acts inside your browser, using your credentials, is also a new kind of risk to understand. Here’s what to keep in mind before letting an AI click on your behalf.

• Real actions inside your logged-in sessions: email, banking, supplier portals. A mistake here can have real consequences.
• Manipulation through a booby-trapped page: a malicious site could try to hijack the agent with hidden instructions.
• Automated purchases and payments: without guardrails, the bill can add up fast.
• Exposed business data if the agent has access to sensitive accounts.

The good news is that these risks can be managed. Human confirmation for sensitive actions, two-factor authentication, keeping personal and business accounts separate, and a clear usage policy all make a real difference. If you’re unsure how exposed you are, talk to our team.

6. How to prepare your business

Even though the feature isn’t here yet, it’s worth building good habits now. Here’s a short list to get started.

• Decide who can use an AI agent, and on which accounts.
• Ban automated payments or purchases without human approval.
• Turn on two-factor authentication everywhere.
• Keep personal and business accounts separate.
• Train your employees to spot a suspicious request or a shady page.
• Write down an AI usage policy, even a short one.

These steps cost nothing and help you avoid unpleasant surprises once the feature reaches Canada.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is auto browse available in Quebec?

Not yet. The rollout began in late June 2026 in the United States, on devices set to US English. It should reach Canada later, but there’s nothing stopping you from preparing now.

Can the AI make purchases without my approval?

Google says it asks for confirmation before sensitive actions like payments. In a business setting, it’s still smart to set clear boundaries and never let an agent complete a purchase without a person signing off.

Which devices are getting auto browse first?

Pixel 10 and Galaxy S26 devices first, with an expansion planned to reach around 200 million Android devices by the end of 2026, running Android 12 or newer with at least 4 GB of RAM.

AI that acts on your behalf is coming: get ready

Browsers that navigate on their own are no longer science fiction. Auto browse in Chrome, OpenAI’s Atlas, and Perplexity’s Comet all point to a year where AI shifts from “answering” to “acting.” To benefit from this without exposing your business, the key is setting boundaries now. Our team can help you build a simple, secure strategy: check out our services or contact OKTO Solutions to talk it through.