OpenAI released an updated Chrome browser assistant on October 16, 2026, saying it can access and act on open tabs. It is the company's first major update to the ChatGPT browser extension since its initial launch.
The updated extension reported a benchmark score of 98.5 on the Computer Use task, measured on a set of complex workflows with many steps. That compares with a previous score of 94.2 from the prior version.
ChatGPT is built on the GPT-6 Astra model and targets users who need to manage multiple tabs simultaneously. Availability begins with all ChatGPT plans, initially for all users.
"Your full chat history now sits in the upgraded ChatGPT sidebar right next to the web page you're viewing," said Matthias Bastian, a contributor at thedecoder. The assistant can pull data from several tabs at once, allowing users to compare products across tabs by size, material, shipping time, and return rules.
The announcement follows the release of GPT-6 Astra, which OpenAI claims is the best Computer Use model on the market right now. The source itself frames the significance as an enhancement to existing tools for managing open tabs.
OpenAI did not say how the assistant handles privacy concerns, and it raised the open question of how the tool manages user data across multiple tabs. The source says the updated Chrome extension works with all ChatGPT plans.
Source: thedecoder
