A new experimental browser is taking a completely different approach to browsing the internet by using artificial intelligence to generate websites instead of simply loading existing web pages.
The project, called Gem, was created by Vidy Thatte, an engineer at Google DeepMind. Rather than retrieving a website from a traditional web server, the experimental browser uses AI to create a webpage based on what a user types.
Thatte first demonstrated Gem on X on July 22, attracting attention for its unusual approach to web browsing. A TestFlight version was released several days later for users interested in trying the experimental technology.
Apple’s TestFlight listing describes Gem simply as a “generative browser,” highlighting its focus on creating web experiences through artificial intelligence.
Traditional web browsers work by requesting information from websites and displaying content that has already been created and published. Gem explores a different model in which the browser itself can generate the requested experience.
This could change how users think about websites and online information. Instead of visiting a fixed webpage, a person could potentially describe what they want and receive an AI-generated interface tailored to that request.
The concept is part of a broader shift toward generative AI, which is increasingly being used to create text, images, software and other digital content. Applying the technology directly to web browsing could open up new possibilities for personalized online experiences.
An AI-generated browser could potentially create pages designed around a user’s specific needs rather than presenting the same layout to everyone. For example, a user might request a particular type of information and receive an interface built specifically around that request.
However, the technology also raises important questions about accuracy and reliability. When a browser generates a website instead of retrieving an established source, users may need to consider where the information comes from and how it has been produced.
Traditional websites generally have identifiable publishers, domains and content sources. A generative browsing system could make the distinction between original information and AI-generated content less obvious.
The experimental nature of Gem means it is still early in its development. Its TestFlight release provides an opportunity to explore the concept, but it should not necessarily be viewed as a replacement for conventional browsers at this stage.
The project also illustrates how artificial intelligence could reshape the basic idea of the web. Browsers have traditionally acted as tools for accessing information created elsewhere. Generative browsers could eventually become tools that create customized digital environments on demand.
If this approach develops further, future browsing could become more conversational and personalized. Users might describe an objective rather than type a conventional website address or search query.
For developers and technology companies, projects such as Gem offer a glimpse into how AI could influence the next generation of internet interfaces.
The idea of generating websites in real time also raises questions about web standards, advertising, search engines, copyright, security and the role of traditional websites. These issues could become increasingly important if generative browsers gain wider adoption.
For now, Gem remains an experimental project, but its approach demonstrates how quickly artificial intelligence is changing the way people interact with digital information.
The concept could ultimately lead to a new form of browsing in which websites are not simply destinations users visit, but experiences generated dynamically according to what they need.
