The Browser Company, known for the Arc Browser on desktop and mobile, recently teased an upcoming web browser named Dia, which emphasizes AI tools. In recent years, the startup launched Arc on Mac and Windows and Arc Search on iOS and Android, but it's now working on a new product aimed at a wider audience. Dia is slated for release in early 2025. The company has unveiled a new website featuring a video about the browser and job openings within the company. According to the browser’s website, “AI won’t exist as an app. Or a button. We believe it’ll be an entirely new environment — built on top of a web browser. ” In a video presentation, CEO Josh Miller showcased some early prototypes of Dia’s capabilities.

One feature demonstrated a tool that operates at the insertion cursor, aiding in writing the next sentence or retrieving internet facts on familiar topics like the launch and specs of the original iPhone. This tool also appears to recognize your browser window, enabling it to fetch Amazon links you've opened and insert them into an email with a basic description. In a second demonstration, users could type commands in the address bar to execute various tasks, such as retrieving a document by description, emailing it through your preferred browser-based email client, or scheduling a calendar meeting using natural language prompts. While some features seem similar to existing writing or calendar tools, their true utility or uniqueness won't be evident until Dia is available for use. The third demonstration was more ambitious: it showed Dia performing actions independently, like adding items from an emailed list to your Amazon cart by browsing the site autonomously. In the demo, Dia added two hammers with grips from an Amazon listing based on the list's request for "an all-purpose hammer. " While not necessarily the best decision every time, this feature represents significant potential, despite initial imperfections. Another example illustrated Dia analyzing a Notion table with details for a video shoot and emailing each participant individually. The Browser Company is not alone in envisioning an AI assistant capable of understanding interfaces and completing tasks on your behalf. Many startups are exploring AI models and tools designed to control computer screens for similar objectives.