Updates·July 31, 2026, 02:00

ChatGPT can now read along with your tabs and YouTube videos

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OpenAI has updated the ChatGPT extension for Chrome so that, in a side panel conversation, users can reference open tabs, ask about YouTube videos and highlight text. In one test, Google's own Gemini was faster.

OpenAI has updated its ChatGPT extension for Chrome, according to PiunikaWeb. The update was announced on July 30, 2026. The extension is a small add-on for the browser that makes it possible to use ChatGPT while browsing.

In the Side Chat feature, ChatGPT opens next to the page you are viewing. You can now reference open tabs, ask questions about YouTube videos and highlight text on a page to ask about it. OpenAI describes it this way: "Ask about a YouTube video, reference your open tabs, or highlight text on a page and ask away."

Part of a larger overhaul

According to PiunikaWeb, the update follows OpenAI's decision to shut down the standalone Atlas browser and move its browser features to the ChatGPT desktop app and the Chrome extension.

According to OpenAI's help page, in the desktop app you can mention an open browser tab with an @ mention and bring highlighted text into a conversation. Tasks in Chrome run in Chrome tab groups, so the work for a task is kept together.

Which browsers and which permissions

The extension works in Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera and Vivaldi. Side Chat is supported in Chrome, Edge, Brave and Vivaldi. Setup requires an updated ChatGPT desktop app and is done under Settings > Computer Use. Which browsers are available depends on how the feature has been rolled out in your workspace.

The extension asks for broad permissions, including the ability to read and change all data on all websites as well as browsing history. This makes it possible to work on pages where you are logged in, such as Gmail or LinkedIn. By default, ChatGPT asks before using a new website. You can choose "Allow once," "Allow for this site" or "Allow for all sites," and there is a list of allowed and blocked websites.

One test: slower than Gemini

PiunikaWeb tried out the update. In the author's test, ChatGPT spent over a minute summarizing a YouTube video and used 2 percent of the monthly usage quota on a single request. According to the test, Google's built-in Ask Gemini was faster and more detailed. This is one writer's experience and not a general picture.

The help page is undated and may have changed since the update.