Google has launched an experimental new browser called Disco, along with a novel web experience called GenTabs, as part of its Search Labs initiative. The project, born from a Google hackathon, represents a bold step toward blending AI and web browsing in a way that feels both intuitive and deeply interactive. Disco isn’t meant to replace Chrome. Instead, it’s a testbed for a new kind of digital workflow. When users enter a query—say, planning a trip to Japan—the browser doesn’t just return search results. It opens relevant tabs, then uses Google’s Gemini AI to build a custom, interactive app—what Google calls a GenTab—right in the browser. This app might include a map, an itinerary builder, and links to sources, all dynamically updated as the user adds new tabs. The key innovation lies in the collaboration between user and AI. Rather than the AI delivering a static answer, users are encouraged to explore websites and bring in their own information. As they open new tabs—say, about specific attractions—the GenTab absorbs that data and refines the project. This creates a feedback loop where the AI learns from the user’s research, making the final app more personalized and accurate. Manini Roy, who leads an innovation lab on the Chrome team, demonstrated the system by building a travel planner. As she added tabs for museums and hotels, the GenTab updated in real time. The same process worked for other tasks: creating a medical model of the human foot, or building a cross-country move planner with cost calculators and company comparisons. In each case, the GenTab offered suggestions for improvement and allowed follow-up through a text box, making the experience feel like a co-creative process. Unlike many AI tools that keep users locked in chat windows, Disco actively encourages users to visit and explore the open web. Early testing showed that users were often skipping the links, so the team made a deliberate design choice: open the tabs and let the user’s own research inform the AI. “That’s where the grounding is,” Roy said. “That’s creating the virtuous cycle.” But the big question remains: What exactly is a GenTab? Is it a permanent app with a shareable URL, or a temporary, disposable project? Parisa Tabriz, who leads the Chrome team, admits the answer isn’t clear yet. “We have two new primitives here,” she said. “A project, which is a container for a chat and open tabs, and a GenTab, which turns that into a working web app.” Users have already asked to save, share, and export GenTabs. Tabriz acknowledged that the solution may involve integrating with existing Google tools like Docs and Sheets, offering both permanence and flexibility. For now, Disco is an experiment. It’s not a product, and Google doesn’t know if people will adopt this “vibe-coding” approach to web tasks. But what sets it apart from other AI browsers is its deep respect for the web itself—treating websites not as obstacles to bypass, but as essential ingredients in the AI-powered workflow. If successful, Disco could redefine how we interact with information, turning the browser into a dynamic workspace where AI and human effort co-create tools on the fly. And in doing so, it might just show that the future of the web isn’t just smarter—it’s more collaborative.