
Marketing News Reporter & Industry Journalist

Vicky Sidler is an experienced marketing industry journalist and strategist with more than 15 years in journalism, content strategy, and digital marketing. As a Marketing News Reporter for Strategic Marketing Tribe, she covers breaking developments, trends, and insights that shape the marketing world—from AI in advertising to the latest in customer experience strategy.
Vicky is an award-winning StoryBrand Certified Guide and Duct Tape Marketing Certified Strategist, combining two of the most effective marketing frameworks to help small businesses simplify their message and build marketing systems that work. Her journalism background ensures every piece she writes is fact-checked, insightful, and practical.
Her articles regularly analyze key marketing trends, platform updates, and case studies—offering small business owners, marketers, and industry professionals clear, actionable takeaways. She specializes in topics such as:
Digital marketing strategy
Content marketing and brand storytelling
Marketing technology and automation
AI’s impact on marketing
StoryBrand and Duct Tape Marketing best practices
BA in Journalism & English, University of Johannesburg
StoryBrand Certified Guide
StoryBrand Certified Coach
Duct Tape Marketing Certified Strategist
Over 20 years in journalism and marketing communications
Founder & CEO of Strategic Marketing Tribe
Winner of 50Pros Top 10 Global Leader award

By Vicky Sidler | Published 12 February 2026 at 12:00 GMT+2
Google just quietly gave its AI assistant Gemini a new pair of hands. Or more specifically, a mouse and keyboard. The new feature, called Auto Browse, lets Gemini navigate websites for you. It can now click, scroll, fill out forms, book travel, check your bills, and yes, even fetch a plumber quote—all without you lifting a finger.
According to Bloomberg’s Annie Bang, it’s already being tested by users who are using it for everything from trip planning to tax filing.
Which begs the question: is this the productivity upgrade you didn’t know you needed, or just another fancy way to avoid doing the boring parts of being an adult?
Let’s unpack it.
Google’s Gemini AI can now browse websites, click buttons, and manage simple online tasks in Chrome
It can plan trips, collect quotes, manage bills, and fill in forms
It uses your saved passwords to sign into websites on your behalf
You still have to approve anything final, like placing an order
Good for saving time. Risky if you don’t stay alert
👉 Need help getting your message right? Download the 5-Minute Marketing Fix.
Google Gemini Can Now Browse For You. Should You Let It?
Who Gets It, and What Can It Do?
Why This Matters For Small Business Owners:
1. Don't Do AI Research Before Answering This One Question
2. AI Predictions for 2026: Here's What Chatbots Think Happens Next
3. Browser Privacy Risk 2026: Yandex, Chrome, and Edge Collect the Most Data
4. This South African University Just Schooled Everyone on AI
5. Why Privacy Still Matters in the Age of AI
Frequently Asked Questions About Google Gemini Auto Browse
1. What is Google Chrome’s Auto Browse feature?
2. Can Gemini really log into my accounts and do things for me?
3. What can Gemini Auto Browse actually do for my business?
4. Is it safe to let an AI browse the web for me?
5. Will Gemini Auto Browse work for me if I’m not in the US?
6. How does Gemini know which websites to go to?
7. What happens if Gemini clicks on the wrong thing or gets it wrong?
8. Is this different from Google Assistant or regular search?
9. Can I turn off Auto Browse or limit what Gemini can do?
10. Should I use Gemini Auto Browse for client or business-sensitive tasks?
Google calls it “Auto Browse.” Think of it like giving your AI assistant browser access and a checklist. You say, “Find me the cheapest flight,” and instead of showing links, Gemini opens the airline websites, logs in, compares prices, and gives you a summary. If you ask it to renew your driver’s license or find a new internet provider, it clicks through the forms and gets everything ready.
Gemini still asks for permission before finalizing anything. It’s not ordering you concert tickets or cancelling your electricity without a heads-up. That said, it’s walking a fine line between help and overreach. Kind of like giving your teenager your credit card to pick up groceries and hoping they don’t come back with a gaming chair.
Right now, it’s only available to users in the US who pay for AI Pro or AI Ultra subscriptions. If that’s you, Gemini can now:
Open and browse multiple websites
Use Google Password Manager to log into your accounts
Collect quotes and fill in forms
Summarise results and suggest next steps
Personalise decisions using your Gmail, YouTube, Photos, and calendar data (if you opt in)
Google’s calling this “Personal Intelligence.” It means Gemini can look at your schedule, school holidays, inbox, and online activity to give you personalized help. So yes, your browser now knows when your mother-in-law is flying in and might suggest hotel deals accordingly.
Let’s be honest. No one starts a business because they love filling in forms. Admin is the work you do so you can get to the real work. That’s where this update actually helps.
If you’re a solo operator or your team is already juggling six other things, letting AI handle low-stakes admin could be a solid time-saver. Getting quotes, checking if payments went through, managing subscriptions—these tasks are necessary, but they’re also massive time vampires.
But handing over too much too soon has its own risks.
Google says Gemini won’t make final decisions without your OK. But it will do just about everything leading up to that. And while the safeguards are improving, they’re not foolproof. AI is getting smarter, but scammers are too. If Gemini gets tricked into handing over sensitive information, you won’t care whose fault it was. You’ll just be stuck dealing with the fallout.
There’s also the trust issue. Gemini uses your saved passwords to sign into sites and access personal data across Gmail, YouTube, and more. If that sounds helpful, great. If it sounds creepy, you’re not alone.
It’s not about paranoia. It’s about knowing where the boundaries are and keeping them intact. AI can help with speed. It shouldn’t replace judgment.
Use AI for tasks that are structured, repetitive, and low risk. Keep your eyes on anything that involves money, legal responsibility, or sensitive client data. Think of Gemini like an unpaid intern who’s eager, fast, and mostly accurate. But who still needs supervision and should never be allowed to send invoices unsupervised?
As a small business owner, your time is limited. Delegating admin to AI can make space for the stuff only you can do—building trust, solving client problems, and growing your business.
But keep control where it counts.
Want help making sure your marketing message is just as clear and well-structured? Get my 5-Minute Marketing Fix.
The Gemini article covers handing over browsing control to AI for convenience—but this one asks the real question first: “If this answer is wrong, what happens?”
If Gemini browsing for you feels futuristic, this post shows where AI agents are really heading—and why invisible automation might be closer than you think.
Before giving Gemini access to your passwords and calendar, read this. It outlines just how much Chrome is already collecting about you.
Gemini might be helpful, but you still need clear rules. This post shares how NWU built an AI policy and how your business can too.
Giving Gemini the keys to your online life has trade-offs. This article explains why privacy isn’t paranoia—it’s a business strategy.
It’s a new tool in the Chrome browser that lets Gemini, Google’s AI assistant, open websites, click buttons, log in, and perform tasks online for you. You tell it what you need, and it handles the steps—up to the point of making a final decision or placing an order.
Yes, if you use Google Password Manager, Gemini can sign into your saved accounts and browse as if it were you. But it still needs your confirmation before it completes major actions like payments or orders.
It can handle time-consuming admin tasks like comparing travel deals, collecting quotes, checking invoices, renewing licences, or managing subscriptions. It’s like having an assistant that doesn’t take lunch breaks.
Mostly, but it depends. Google says Gemini won’t take final actions without permission, and it includes security measures. Still, the risk comes from giving it access to your personal accounts and sensitive data—so stay alert.
Not yet. As of early 2026, this feature is only available in the United States and only to users subscribed to Google’s AI Pro or AI Ultra plans.
You give it a prompt like “Find me a plumber near me” or “Compare hotel prices for this weekend,” and it uses its search capabilities and knowledge of your data (if enabled) to choose which sites to visit.
That’s why human approval is still required at the end. Gemini might fill out the wrong form or miss a key detail, so it’s up to you to review before anything is finalised.
Yes. This isn’t just giving you a list of links or reading your emails. Auto Browse actively navigates the web, opens pages, fills in forms, and moves through tasks like a real assistant.
Yes. You can manage permissions, control access to personal data, and choose whether or not to allow Gemini to use Google Password Manager and access your Gmail or calendar.
No. It’s better to keep AI on admin and personal tasks only. Anything involving financial risk, legal issues, or client data should still be handled manually or with trusted team members.

Created with clarity (and coffee)
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