The secret of ChatGPT to control 3 Chrome tabs

ChatGPT can read and control multiple Chrome tabs when the user gives explicit permission. According to OpenAI's official documentation, the updated extension allows using the content of open pages as context, both from the web application and the desktop application. This changes a very common task: transferring information from one tab to another without copying it manually.

Imagine you have three sofas open before buying one. Instead of jumping between windows, you can ask ChatGPT to compare them. The feature is still being rolled out gradually and is not the same for everyone, but the change already points to a more direct way of working with the browser (and here is the detail to watch out for).

What ChatGPT can do with Chrome tabs

How does it read information from multiple pages?

The feature allows ChatGPT to use the content of multiple open tabs as context. Put simply: the assistant can consult the pages you indicate and work with the information found there, instead of limiting itself to the text you write in the conversation box.

To activate this interaction, just mention Chrome within ChatGPT, provided the corresponding extension is installed and available for the account. In Chat mode, it can browse pages, summarize them, and compare their data. It seems like a small difference, but it is very practical when data is spread across various providers.

• Compare prices and features of various products open in different tabs.
• Summarize the content of several pages without copying them one by one.
• Review contractor services and prepare a message based on the information found.
• Transfer prices and specifications to a comparison grid.

What is the difference between Chat and Work?

Chat mode focuses on consulting, organizing, and explaining the information from the tabs. Work mode goes a step further: it can directly operate on these pages, that is, execute actions requested by the user.

This second mode can be used to fill out a registration form with data from another tab, send messages, or download files. The difference is essential: reading a page is not the same as modifying it or initiating an action on behalf of the user. Therefore, it is advisable to review what you ask before confirming any operation.

OpenAI presents this capability as an extension of using the computer within Chrome. In practice, the novelty reduces manual movement between pages but does not eliminate the need to check the result. Misinterpreted data can end up in an incorrect comparison or a form with wrong information.

How to try the feature and check permissions

What do I need to get started?

You need to have the ChatGPT desktop application installed and the updated extension for Google Chrome. Availability may vary depending on the subscribed plan, region, and device, so not finding the option does not necessarily mean there is an error in the browser.

• Install or update the ChatGPT application on your computer.
• Install the ChatGPT extension for Chrome and ensure it is active.
• Open the pages you want to consult in multiple Google Chrome tabs.
• Start a conversation and mention Chrome to indicate you want to work with the open tabs.
• Choose Chat mode if you want to summarize or compare information, or Work mode if you need the assistant to act on the pages.
• Read the permission request and press the corresponding button only if you accept the extension accessing your browsing history.

Access to history is not a minor detail. This history can contain searches, internal work addresses, or other sensitive data. The explicit permission acts as a barrier: before granting access, the user can consider whether the open tabs contain information they do not want to share with the assistant.

Which browsers support the sidebar?

OpenAI's documentation states that the sidebar is compatible with Chrome, Edge, Brave, and Vivaldi. Opera offers more limited compatibility: it allows mentioning tabs and controlling the browser from the desktop application but does not have exactly the same sidebar features.

This sidebar allows reviewing the complete conversation history of Chat and Work modes without leaving the page you are viewing. For those who alternate between research, email, and documents, this continuity can save constant interruptions.

The check must be concrete. Do not assume all capabilities are active just because you see the extension icon. The feature may depend on the account, device, or the gradual rollout OpenAI has announced.

What changes compared to Atlas and Gemini

Why does this feature replace part of Atlas's strategy?

The feature matters because OpenAI has shifted the browsing experience towards ChatGPT and Codex, instead of maintaining a separate browser. According to official ChatGPT release notes, Atlas stopped working on August 9, 2026.

The company had explained that it would build a more capable browsing experience within ChatGPT and Codex, its programming tool. The multi-tab features arriving on Chrome are part of that shift: the user keeps the browser they already use and adds the ability to interact with the assistant.

For the reader, the practical difference is clear. There is no need to open a separate environment just to compare pages, but it is necessary to check which data the extension shares and what actions it can perform in Work mode.

How is it similar to Gemini within Chrome?

Google already offers with Gemini a feature capable of working with multiple Chrome tabs and connecting with services like Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Drive. ChatGPT falls into this same category of tools, but its proposal focuses on integrating tab control with Chat and Work modes.

This makes privacy a central part of the decision. An extension that reads tabs can find information about purchases, internal documents, personal searches, or work addresses. That is why explicit permission and reviewing open pages are not mere formalities.

• You are affected if you have the ChatGPT extension installed and the option lets you mention Chrome within the conversation.
• You can make comparisons if ChatGPT identifies more than one tab and can summarize the content.
• You can use Work if your account has the mode and the assistant offers actions on the pages.
• You don’t have access yet if no Chrome-related option appears, if the extension is unavailable, or if the rollout has not reached your account.
• You should review permission if tabs contain sensitive searches or internal work addresses.

Before filling out a form, sending a message, or downloading a file, review the content and proposed action. Keep the ChatGPT application, extension, and browser updated; periodically check permissions and close sensitive tabs when you do not need them. If you detect an action you did not request, incorrect data, or an access you cannot revoke, stop using the extension and seek help from official OpenAI support or a trusted professional.

ChatGPT is no longer limited to responding only to the text you provide: with the corresponding permission, it can read and operate on multiple Chrome tabs. The feature can save time on comparisons, forms, and summaries, but control remains yours. Review permissions, verify each result, and remember that convenience should not come before privacy.