AI browsers are the theme of 2025, but are they actually useful yet? #Vergecast

Industry Trend - AI browsers are emerging as a significant theme, aiming to compete with Google [1] - Browsers are evolving into super-agentic platforms, assisting users with tasks like online shopping and research [1] - The browser is transitioning from a document viewer to a platform for running next-generation applications [3] Competition and Technology - Companies are recognizing the need to develop browsers to control the user experience and application access [4] - Many new AI browsers are built on Chromium, sharing fundamental similarities [5] - The key question is which company can effectively implement and optimize these AI browser functionalities first [6] Strategic Implications - Companies are following a similar path to Google, seeking to own the user interface where searches and other activities occur [5] - The browser could become the new operating system, with AI agents interacting with applications on behalf of users [4]