Google Chrome experiments with a smarter right-click AI feature that lets users ask questions about webpages without leaving the page.
Google is experimenting with a new Chrome feature that could make browsing more interactive and less disruptive. The update lets users ask AI questions about any webpage with a simple right click. There is no longer a need to highlight text or select images before starting a search.
This feature is currently available only in Chrome Canary, which is Google’s testing version of the browser. Canary is where new ideas are tried before they reach the public. While the tool is still in development, it gives a clear look at how Google wants AI to fit more naturally into everyday browsing.
How the New Right-Click Feature Works
With this update, users can right-click anywhere on a webpage and choose the option labeled “Search with Google Lens.” Instead of opening the older Lens view in a new screen, Chrome now shows a small floating bar at the top of the page.
This bar includes a short preview of the page and a prompt that says “Ask about this page.” From there, users can type questions or explore the content using AI without leaving the page they are reading. The goal is to keep users focused on the content while still giving them quick access to extra information.
Designed to Stay Out of the Way
According to reports from Windows Report, the new Lens bar is meant to feel light and unobtrusive. It appears when needed and disappears when users click elsewhere on the page. Even after it slides away, Chrome keeps the page context ready in the background.
This means users can bring the AI back quickly without restarting the process. It also avoids breaking the flow of reading, which is a common complaint with tools that open new tabs or windows.
No More Manual Selection Needed
One of the biggest changes is how Chrome handles page content. In the past, Google Lens required users to select text or images before asking a question. That step often slowed things down and forced users to guess which part of the page mattered most.
With the updated system, Chrome automatically captures the entire visible webpage. This allows users to ask broader questions, such as asking for a summary, an explanation, or more details about what they are viewing. By removing the need for manual selection, Google is trying to make AI feel more natural and less technical.
AI Mode Opens in the Side Panel
When users interact with the new Lens bar, Chrome opens AI Mode in the browser’s side panel. This panel shows a mix of AI responses and traditional search tools. Users may see tabs such as AI Mode, All, Exact matches, Products, and Visual matches. This layout suggests that Google is working toward a single space where AI answers and standard search results live together. Rather than choosing between AI and search, users can move between both in one place.
A Shift Toward Faster and Easier AI Use
The older Lens workflow required users to stop, think, and select content before asking a question. The new approach changes that order. Chrome now assumes the page is relevant and lets users refine their questions afterward.
As Windows Report points out, this could make AI use feel more automatic. Instead of being a special tool, AI could become something people use casually while browsing news, reading articles, or shopping online. This lower barrier could lead to more frequent and spontaneous AI interactions.
Still in Testing, With Open Questions
Since the feature is only available in Chrome Canary, there is no official word on when or if it will reach the stable version of Chrome. Many features tested in Canary change or disappear before public release. Still, the experiment reflects Google’s broader strategy to weave AI into the core of its products rather than treating it as an add-on.
Observers will be paying attention to how much control users get over this feature. Options to disable it or adjust how it works could play a big role in whether people welcome it or ignore it. For now, the update offers a glimpse into a future where asking AI about what you are reading is as simple as a right click.
About The Author
