I tried Gemini Spark in Chrome and it's the perfect AI for handling all the boring bits online

I recently got the chance to test Gemini Spark in Google's Chrome browser, and I must say, it's an excellent AI tool for handling all the mundane online tasks. Designed as an AI agent that can work in the background, Gemini Spark now seamlessly integrates into Chrome, allowing it to browse the web and perform tasks even when the browser is closed.

To get started with Gemini Spark, you need a few things: the latest version of Google Chrome on either Windows or macOS, a personal Google account, and a Google AI Pro or Google AI Ultra subscription. Once you have those, you must enable Safe Browsing in Chrome and switch on the "Let Gemini browse for you" option in the AI Innovations or Gemini settings. After that, you can start using the Ask Gemini panel at the top of Chrome to assign jobs that require browser access.

I tested Gemini Spark by assigning it a few jobs. First, I asked it to help me with comparison shopping for a 65-inch TV. Instead of simply giving me a recommendation, Spark compared prices across Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, and Walmart, looked for promo codes, calculated the final price after discounts, and even prepared me for checkout.

As the AI navigated different websites and evaluated various options, I could watch it in action, seeing it make decisions based on the best value. When it found a TV it believed was the best deal, it added it to my cart but paused, waiting for me to approve the purchase before proceeding.

Next, I challenged Gemini Spark by asking it to plan a family day out for two adults and two toddlers. This involved coordinating opening hours, travel times, creating a logical schedule, finding a restaurant with online reservations, and even reserving museum tickets. The AI handled all these tasks, from checking travel times to preparing the museum ticket purchase. Before making any final bookings, it asked for my approval, demonstrating its common sense approach to handling sensitive actions.

Google claims Gemini Spark is particularly adept at filling out paperwork, especially when using information from your own Google accounts. During my test, I asked Spark to complete my kid's library card application. It successfully filled in my address, contact information, and other saved details. When it reached the final submission page, it paused, awaiting my approval before clicking the button. This level of interaction is a stark contrast to regular Gemini, which typically just describes what you should do next.

While Gemini Spark won't replace every online task, it significantly reduces the amount of clicking, tab juggling, and repetitive typing required for many tedious jobs. It's a powerful tool that quietly streamlines your online experience, making it faster and more efficient.