The makers of Arc show off new AI-driven ‘smart browser’ called Dia

Back in 2022, The Browser Company released an innovative web browser called Arc that prioritized ease-of-use and user experience over all things. The simplified interface and feature set was good for niche users, but didn’t offer enough pizzazz for advanced users.

Now, the makers of Arc have unveiled the first taste of their next product, which happens to be yet another web browser — except this one is an AI-powered “smart browser” called Dia.

It’s no secret that the world is moving towards an AI-driven future. “What we believe specifically is that AI will not exist as an app or a button, but AI will be a whole new environment built on top of a browser,” said The Browser Company’s CEO Josh Miller in a recruitment video on YouTube:

In the video, the company shows off several prototype features in Dia. First, an interactive insertion marker that can directly AI-generate text based on the user’s instructions — much like an AI chatbot that’s always active in the cursor rather than in a dedicated tab.

Dia will also be able to automatically surf and perform tasks for the user based on instructions entered in the address bar. For example, Dia will be able to find a specific document based on a typed description, then send it via the user’s preferred email platform.

Another feature the company is working on will allow Dia to perform more complex tasks, such as adding different items to a shopping cart on Amazon or emailing personalized information to different employees.

Dia will be based on Chromium, but will use the Arc Development Kit (ADK), which is allegedly much faster for developing new features. The Browser Company says Dia is expected to release in early 2025.

Further reading: Secure web browsers that aren’t Chrome or Edge