Google Launches Project Mariner, Its AI-Powered Web Browsing Agent
Google's Project Mariner AI Agent Expands with Major Upgrades
At Google I/O 2025, the tech giant announced significant updates to Project Mariner, its experimental AI agent designed to browse and interact with websites on behalf of users. Now available to more testers and developers, the revamped version can juggle nearly a dozen tasks simultaneously, making it far more efficient than its initial release.
Who Gets Access?
Starting today, U.S. subscribers to Google’s premium AI Ultra plan ($249.99/month) will gain early access. The company also confirmed plans to expand availability to more countries soon. Additionally, Project Mariner’s capabilities are being integrated into the Gemini API and Vertex AI, opening doors for developers to build AI-powered applications.
A New Way to Interact with the Web
First introduced in late 2024, Project Mariner represents Google’s vision for an AI-driven internet experience—where users delegate tasks instead of manually browsing websites. Need concert tickets? Groceries? Just ask the AI, and it handles the rest—no need to visit third-party sites.
Image Credits: Google Competing in the AI Agent Space
Google isn’t alone in this race. OpenAI’s Operator, Amazon’s Nova Act, and Anthropic’s Computer Use are all developing similar web-browsing AI agents. However, early tests (including TechCrunch’s) reveal these tools are still slow and error-prone.
What’s Improved?
Google claims it has refined Project Mariner based on user feedback. A key upgrade? It now runs on cloud-based virtual machines (like OpenAI and Amazon’s agents), freeing up users’ devices. No more being locked out of other tabs while the AI works—Mariner now handles up to 10 background tasks seamlessly.
What’s Next?
- AI Mode Integration: Soon, users will access Project Mariner directly within Google Search’s AI Mode, though initially limited to Search Labs testers.
- Partnerships: Google is collaborating with Ticketmaster, StubHub, Resy, and Vagaro to streamline agent-assisted bookings.
- Agent Mode Demo: A new feature combining web browsing, research tools, and Google app integrations was also previewed, with Ultra subscribers getting early desktop access.
The Bigger Picture
Google is finally pushing its agentic AI vision into the real world. With Project Mariner, Agent Mode, and AI Mode, the company is reshaping how we interact with the web—and how businesses engage with customers. The implications for the internet economy? Huge. And Google isn’t holding back.
Want more AI insights? Join TechCrunch Sessions: AI (June 5, Berkeley) for expert talks from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere. Limited-time tickets at $292—secure yours before they’re gone!
Exhibitors: Showcase your AI innovations to 1,200+ decision-makers. Tables available until May 9 (or until sold out).
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Comments (8)
0/200
![HenryGonzalez]()
HenryGonzalez
October 4, 2025 at 4:30:52 AM EDT
Google这个浏览助手听起来不错，但总觉得AI代我上网有点不安全啊🤔万一它擅自点击了什么钓鱼网站或者泄露隐私怎么办？目前我还是更相信自己手动操作。
0
![LawrenceScott]()
LawrenceScott
August 27, 2025 at 10:32:46 PM EDT
Whoa, Google's Project Mariner sounds like a game-changer! An AI that browses the web for you? I'm curious how it handles tricky sites with pop-ups. Can't wait to try it out! 😎
0
![FrankSanchez]()
FrankSanchez
July 27, 2025 at 9:19:30 PM EDT
Google's Project Mariner sounds like a game-changer! An AI that browses the web for you? I'm curious how it handles tricky sites with pop-ups or paywalls. Excited to see where this goes! 😎
0
![RyanWalker]()
RyanWalker
July 9, 2025 at 5:33:12 AM EDT
Круто, что Google делает такие шаги с Project Mariner! AI, который сам шарит по сайтам — это мощно. Но как насчёт конкуренции с другими AI-гигантами? 🧐
0
![SamuelThomas]()
SamuelThomas
July 8, 2025 at 10:48:13 PM EDT
这个项目听起来好 futuristic 啊！AI 帮你逛网页，省时省力。不过会不会有点太依赖 AI 了？感觉以后人都变懒了 😂
0
![WillGarcía]()
WillGarcía
July 8, 2025 at 7:55:05 PM EDT
プロジェクトマリナー、めっちゃ興味深い！ウェブを自動でナビゲートするAIって未来すぎるね。でも、倫理的な問題とかどうなるんだろう？🤔
0
Google's Project Mariner AI Agent Expands with Major Upgrades
At Google I/O 2025, the tech giant announced significant updates to Project Mariner, its experimental AI agent designed to browse and interact with websites on behalf of users. Now available to more testers and developers, the revamped version can juggle nearly a dozen tasks simultaneously, making it far more efficient than its initial release.
Who Gets Access?
Starting today, U.S. subscribers to Google’s premium AI Ultra plan ($249.99/month) will gain early access. The company also confirmed plans to expand availability to more countries soon. Additionally, Project Mariner’s capabilities are being integrated into the Gemini API and Vertex AI, opening doors for developers to build AI-powered applications.
A New Way to Interact with the Web
First introduced in late 2024, Project Mariner represents Google’s vision for an AI-driven internet experience—where users delegate tasks instead of manually browsing websites. Need concert tickets? Groceries? Just ask the AI, and it handles the rest—no need to visit third-party sites.
Competing in the AI Agent Space
Google isn’t alone in this race. OpenAI’s Operator, Amazon’s Nova Act, and Anthropic’s Computer Use are all developing similar web-browsing AI agents. However, early tests (including TechCrunch’s) reveal these tools are still slow and error-prone.
What’s Improved?
Google claims it has refined Project Mariner based on user feedback. A key upgrade? It now runs on cloud-based virtual machines (like OpenAI and Amazon’s agents), freeing up users’ devices. No more being locked out of other tabs while the AI works—Mariner now handles up to 10 background tasks seamlessly.
What’s Next?
- AI Mode Integration: Soon, users will access Project Mariner directly within Google Search’s AI Mode, though initially limited to Search Labs testers.
- Partnerships: Google is collaborating with Ticketmaster, StubHub, Resy, and Vagaro to streamline agent-assisted bookings.
- Agent Mode Demo: A new feature combining web browsing, research tools, and Google app integrations was also previewed, with Ultra subscribers getting early desktop access.
The Bigger Picture
Google is finally pushing its agentic AI vision into the real world. With Project Mariner, Agent Mode, and AI Mode, the company is reshaping how we interact with the web—and how businesses engage with customers. The implications for the internet economy? Huge. And Google isn’t holding back.
Want more AI insights? Join TechCrunch Sessions: AI (June 5, Berkeley) for expert talks from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere. Limited-time tickets at $292—secure yours before they’re gone!
Exhibitors: Showcase your AI innovations to 1,200+ decision-makers. Tables available until May 9 (or until sold out).
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Airbnb is quietly rolling out an AI customer service bot in the US
Airbnb Takes AI-Powered Customer Service to New Heights
Last month, during Airbnb’s first-quarter earnings call, CEO Brian Chesky announced that the company had begun rolling out an AI-powered customer service bot in the U.S. It’s been quite the journey since last year when Airbnb revealed it was te
Manny Medina's New Venture: Enabling AI Agents to Earn Income
As the era of AI agents unfolds, a new trend is gaining traction: startups are emerging to provide the essential tools that help businesses create and manage a workforce of bots. Manny Medina, renowned for founding and formerly leading Outreach, a sales automation company valued at $4.4 billion, has
October 4, 2025 at 4:30:52 AM EDT
Google这个浏览助手听起来不错，但总觉得AI代我上网有点不安全啊🤔万一它擅自点击了什么钓鱼网站或者泄露隐私怎么办？目前我还是更相信自己手动操作。
0
August 27, 2025 at 10:32:46 PM EDT
Whoa, Google's Project Mariner sounds like a game-changer! An AI that browses the web for you? I'm curious how it handles tricky sites with pop-ups. Can't wait to try it out! 😎
0
July 27, 2025 at 9:19:30 PM EDT
Google's Project Mariner sounds like a game-changer! An AI that browses the web for you? I'm curious how it handles tricky sites with pop-ups or paywalls. Excited to see where this goes! 😎
0
July 9, 2025 at 5:33:12 AM EDT
Круто, что Google делает такие шаги с Project Mariner! AI, который сам шарит по сайтам — это мощно. Но как насчёт конкуренции с другими AI-гигантами? 🧐
0
July 8, 2025 at 10:48:13 PM EDT
这个项目听起来好 futuristic 啊！AI 帮你逛网页，省时省力。不过会不会有点太依赖 AI 了？感觉以后人都变懒了 😂
0
July 8, 2025 at 7:55:05 PM EDT
プロジェクトマリナー、めっちゃ興味深い！ウェブを自動でナビゲートするAIって未来すぎるね。でも、倫理的な問題とかどうなるんだろう？🤔
0
