Google Labs Launches Experimental AI Browser 'Disco' Amidst Browser Market Rivalry

In December 2025, Google Labs formally introduced Disco, an experimental web browser built on the Chromium foundation. This initiative is positioned as a proving ground for advanced artificial intelligence concepts, operating separately from the primary Chrome browser, which already integrates the Gemini model. Google Labs intends for Disco to serve as a platform for reimagining the web experience, with successful innovations potentially migrating to mainstream products in the future.

The flagship capability highlighted in Disco is GenTab, a feature powered by the Gemini 3 model. GenTab analyzes a user's comprehensive browsing context, including all open tabs and interaction history within the Gemini discussion interface. This analysis enables the dynamic construction of personalized, interactive web applications termed 'GenTabs,' designed to execute complex tasks using simple text commands without manual coding. Use cases demonstrated by Google included generating an interactive itinerary for planning a cherry blossom season tour in Japan and creating complex, interactive 3D models for educational purposes.

Google emphasized data provenance within the new system, confirming that every generative element produced by a GenTab is systematically linked back to its original web sources to promote transparency. Disco's architectural advantage is its capacity to manage and synthesize context across multiple, disparate tabs simultaneously, moving beyond the limitations of the active viewport. GenTab is currently announced as the first feature in a sequence planned for the experimental browser.

Access to the Disco browser remains highly restricted and experimental; availability is currently limited exclusively to macOS users who have joined a waiting list managed by Google Labs. This controlled rollout strategy allows Google to gather critical feedback on stability and user behavior before considering broader engineering commitments for cross-platform deployment. The focus on complex workflow management suggests Disco is being evaluated primarily as a high-level productivity tool.

This launch occurs within an intensely competitive environment where established and emerging entities are aggressively pursuing AI-native browsing dominance. Competitors include Perplexity, which launched its Comet browser in July 2025, and OpenAI, which released its Chromium-based Atlas browser in October 2025. Perplexity’s Comet concentrates on research automation, while OpenAI’s Atlas integrates ChatGPT for agentic actions and contextual memory.

Concurrently, the rivalry between Google and Microsoft continues in the browser space. Microsoft initiated a targeted campaign within the Edge browser in late 2025 aimed at discouraging Windows users from downloading Google Chrome. When a user navigates to the Chrome download page using Microsoft Edge, a banner appears at the top of the window. This updated messaging pivots its core argument toward security and privacy assurances, directing users who click the "Browse securely now" button to a dedicated Online Safety page detailing Edge security functionalities like the built-in Edge Secure Network VPN and InPrivate browsing.

The introduction of Disco signals Google's strategic imperative to embed generative AI deeply into the core user interface. The GenTab functionality represents a substantial technological progression beyond standard conversational AI assistants. However, the restricted, invite-only status on macOS suggests these advanced capabilities are still undergoing rigorous refinement before achieving mainstream viability, set against the backdrop of Microsoft's security-focused campaign against Chrome.