Google recently launched its first AI agent that can take action on the web, named Project Mariner. This agent, powered by Gemini, can control your Chrome browser, move the cursor on mobile screens, click buttons, and fill out forms, enabling it to use and browse websites like a human.
Project Mariner can perform tasks such as "create a shopping cart from this list at the grocery store." The agent navigates to the grocery store's website, searches for items, and adds them to a virtual shopping cart. However, the agent cannot check out, as it should not fill in credit card numbers or billing information.
Google's goal is to shift users from directly interacting with websites to engaging with generative AI systems that complete these tasks for them. This could impact millions of businesses, from publishers like TechCrunch to retailers like Walmart, which have traditionally relied on Google to attract real users to visit and use their websites.
On Wednesday, Google also introduced several other AI agents for more specific tasks, including: * Deep Research: an AI agent that helps users explore complex topics. Jules: an AI agent that assists developers with coding tasks. An AI agent for browsing video games: an AI agent that helps users navigate the world of video games.
It is currently unclear when Project Mariner will be available to most Google users, but once launched, these agents could have a significant impact on the broader web. The web is designed for humans, but Google's AI agents may change that standard.
