Google Chrome has introduced a new generative AI feature called "Skills," which allows users to run customizable prompts via a keyboard shortcut. This feature adds to Google’s growing portfolio of AI tools integrated into its software.
Users can create their own Skills using Google’s chatbot, Gemini, or utilize a library of over 50 premade Skills. These presets enable functionalities like summarizing YouTube videos, enhancing protein content in recipes, and evaluating job listings.
To start using Skills, open the Gemini sidebar in Chrome by clicking the “Ask Gemini” icon in the top-right corner of the browser. Typing a forward slash in the prompt box will display available Skills. Once selected, Gemini analyzes the user’s current web content according to the Skill’s framework.
An example of a Skill, the "Protein Maximizer," demonstrates how it operates by analyzing a recipe, identifying ingredients, estimating their protein content, and suggesting modifications to enhance protein levels. It outputs a revised recipe listing protein content for each ingredient and the total per serving.
As highlighted, while these tools may face initial hiccups, they have potential to streamline workflows for users who enjoy productivity enhancements. However, many Chrome users might not notice the Skills feature during their regular browsing sessions.
For those uninterested in this feature, it’s possible to disable the Ask Gemini button through Chrome’s Settings under the AI Innovations tab.
The introduction of Skills marks a significant shift for Chrome as it positions itself in the AI era. The integration of Gemini directly into the browser provides a continuous assistive presence, ready to engage with users’ web activities.
Similar initiatives are being seen from other browsers, such as Opera Neon, which offers a tool called Cards for reusing prompts—demonstrating a broader trend in making AI prompts more accessible to users.
