Anthropic has announced a limited experiment that will provide 1,000 paid subscribers access to Claude’s Google Chrome extension. The extension will work inside the browser like other plug-ins and allow users to ask questions about web pages. While it does not support agentic tasks for now, it can carry out functions such as summarising content and analysing datasets available on a web page. The company said the experiment is aimed at collecting feedback on how users engage with the tool before considering a wider release.
In a newsroom update, Anthropic explained that the extension will serve as an AI assistant within Chrome. At present, it is available only for users subscribed to Claude’s Max tier, which offers two plans priced at 100 US dollars (about Rs. 8,700) and 200 US dollars (about Rs. 17,500) per month. Eligible users can sign up for the waitlist. The feature is currently limited to Chrome’s desktop application, and Anthropic has not disclosed when it may become more broadly available.
Anthropic also shared a demo video on X, previously known as Twitter, showing how the extension will appear and function. After installation, it shows up as a side panel on the right side of the browser, with a text box at the bottom. Users can click on the Claude icon and begin chatting with the AI assistant on any web page.
Claude requires explicit permission before it can read a page. Once granted, it can summarise the content, locate specific information and respond to queries.
Anthropic explained that the feature is being tested on a small scale first because of potential safety risks. The company acknowledged that the extension may be vulnerable to AI-focused hacking attempts such as prompt injection attacks, which can trick chatbots into executing phishing campaigns or even delivering ransomware through PowerShell scripts.
At present, the Claude extension asks for site-level permissions that must be approved by the user for each new website. It also seeks additional confirmation before performing high-risk actions, including publishing or sharing sensitive data. Anthropic said it wants to study not only how users will make use of the tool but also how malicious actors might try to exploit it.
Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat
Do Follow: The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News LinkedIn Account | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Facebook | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Youtube | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Twitter |The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Whatsapp Channel | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Instagram
About us:
The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News is a premier platform dedicated to delivering latest news, updates, and insights from the tech industry. With its strong foundation of intellectual property and thought leadership, the platform is well-positioned to stay ahead of the curve and lead conversations about how technology shapes our world. From its early days as CIO News to its rebranding as The Mainstream on November 28, 2024, it has been expanding its global reach, targeting key markets in the Middle East & Africa, ASEAN, the USA, and the UK. The Mainstream is a vision to put technology at the center of every conversation, inspiring professionals and organizations to embrace the future of tech.
