BrowserOS Review: The Open-Source AI Browser That Clicks, Types, and Thinks for You

Imagine a browser that can click, summarize, fill out forms, or even place orders on your behalf. Not science fiction anymore — it’s happening now.

In recent months, several AI-powered “agentic browsers” have emerged: ChatGPT Atlas (by OpenAI), Comet (by Perplexity), Dia (by The Browser Company), and Neon (by Opera). Each one redefines browsing with AI assistance, but they all share a few caveats — they’re closed-source, proprietary, and not always transparent about how they handle your data.

Enter BrowserOS, a new contender that takes a completely different path. Developed by former engineers from Google and Microsoft, BrowserOS promises agentic web navigation powered by AI, but with an open-source core and a strong commitment to privacy.

We installed it, tested its features, and pushed its automation to the limits. Here’s everything you need to know.

BrowserOS: The AI Browser With a Bite

Behind BrowserOS are twin brothers Nithin and Nikhil Sonti, both former engineers at Google, YouTube, Meta, and Microsoft. In 2024, they launched their own company in San Francisco, backed by Y Combinator, to create a browser that blends AI-driven automation with transparency and user control.

Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux, BrowserOS is built on Chromium. While some may sigh at that choice, it’s practical — Chromium ensures compatibility and a smoother transition for users coming from Chrome.

But don’t be fooled — BrowserOS and Chrome are worlds apart. Chrome is tightly integrated into Google’s ecosystem (and telemetry), while BrowserOS is about user autonomy, open-source code, and privacy-first AI.

And it’s not just about browsing. BrowserOS is built to act, not just respond. It lets you chat with AI models, compare responses from different LLMs, and even teach your browser how to automate tasks — all directly from its interface.

Familiar Design, Smarter Tools

Visually, BrowserOS looks almost identical to Chrome — the same address bar, tab layout, and menu structure. But you’ll quickly notice a few new icons in the toolbar: LLM Chat, LLM Hub, and Agent. These three are the heart of the BrowserOS experience.

LLM Chat: Talk to Multiple AIs Without Leaving Your Tab

Click the LLM Chat button, and a right-hand sidebar appears. Here, you can chat directly with popular AI models — including ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, Gemini, and Perplexity — without visiting their websites.

You simply pick your preferred model from a dropdown, type your question, and get instant answers in the sidebar.

No constant logins are required either. BrowserOS connects through public APIs when available, or prompts you to sign in through a secure in-browser window if necessary.

LLM Hub: Compare AI Models Side by Side

The LLM Hub takes things a step further. It opens in a separate window and allows you to ask the same question to multiple AIs simultaneously. Responses from ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and others appear side by side for easy comparison.

It’s an incredibly useful tool for fact-checking, detecting bias, or comparing tone and accuracy between models — perfect for researchers, journalists, or AI enthusiasts.

Agent Mode: When the Browser Works for You

The Agent button is where BrowserOS really stands out. It introduces three modes: Chat Mode, Agent Mode, and Teach Mode — each designed to let the browser do more than just display pages.

Chat Mode: Context-Aware AI Assistance

In Chat Mode, the browser’s built-in AI can see what you’re doing — your open tabs and the content you’re viewing.

That means you can ask it to summarize an article, translate a passage, explain a paragraph, or extract key details directly from the page you’re reading.

It’s like having an AI assistant that watches your browsing in real time — and jumps in only when you need help.

Agent Mode: The Browser That Clicks for You

Agent Mode turns BrowserOS into a true automation tool. Instead of typing or clicking, you simply describe a task, and the AI executes it within the browser.

For instance, we asked it to search for a Samsung 990 Pro SSD on Amazon and add it to the cart. The first attempt stumbled a bit, but after retrying, it successfully navigated the site, found the product, and added it — stopping only when it required login credentials.

It’s not flawless yet, but the idea works. The browser scrolls, clicks, types, and closes cookie pop-ups — all on its own.

Teach Mode: Record Once, Repeat Forever

Teach Mode is perhaps the most innovative feature. Instead of describing a task, you demonstrate it once — and BrowserOS records your actions (clicks, scrolls, text entries, mouse movements).

When you’re done, you can replay the workflow anytime with a single click. It’s slower than a bot but surprisingly effective — perfect for repetitive actions like filling out forms, submitting reports, or posting comments.

Integrations and AI Customization

BrowserOS also supports integrations with Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Notion. Once connected, your AI agents can read emails, schedule meetings, edit documents, or update spreadsheets — directly within the browser.

By default, BrowserOS uses its own AI agent that automatically picks the best model for each task. But if you prefer control, you can connect your own API keys and choose your favorite models manually.

Supported engines include ChatGPT (OpenAI), Claude (Anthropic), Gemini (Google), and even local models via Ollama or LM Studio. You can mix and match them from the settings menu for ultimate flexibility.

So, Is BrowserOS Worth Trying?

Like any early-stage browser, BrowserOS isn’t perfect. Expect the occasional bug, lag, or failed automation. But the foundation is solid — and the vision is exciting.

With open-source transparency, no hidden data collection, Chromium compatibility, and support for local AI models, BrowserOS offers something no other AI browser currently does: a balance between automation and privacy.

If you rely heavily on AI tools or want to streamline repetitive online tasks, BrowserOS is absolutely worth a try. It’s one of the few browsers that proves AI can make your browsing smarter — without making you give up control.

Final Verdict

BrowserOS isn’t just another AI gimmick — it’s a glimpse into the future of the web. A browser that doesn’t just display pages, but understands them, interacts with them, and acts on your behalf — all while keeping your data private.

If OpenAI’s Atlas is the flashy sports car of AI browsers, BrowserOS is the reliable, open-source workhorse — quietly powerful, endlessly customizable, and refreshingly transparent.