Google Unveils Project Mariner: AI Agents Use Web to Automate Tasks for You

Google has made a significant breakthrough in artificial intelligence (AI) research with the unveiling of its first-ever AI agent that can take actions on the web. Dubbed Project Mariner, this research prototype from Google’s DeepMind division is powered by Gemini and represents a fundamental shift in how users interact with websites.

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A New Paradigm Shift in UX

According to Google executive Jaclyn Konzelmann, Project Mariner marks a new paradigm shift in user experience (UX) design. The AI agent takes control of your Chrome browser, moving the cursor on your screen, clicking buttons, and filling out forms, allowing it to use and navigate websites just like a human would.

How Project Mariner Works

To get started with Project Mariner, users need to install an extension in their Chrome browser. Once installed, a chat window pops up to the right of the browser, where you can instruct the agent to perform tasks such as creating a shopping cart from a grocery store based on a list.

In a demo with TechCrunch, Konzelmann showed how Project Mariner works. The AI agent navigated to a grocery store’s website (in this case, Safeway) and then searched for and added items to a virtual shopping cart. One notable aspect of the demo was the slow pace at which the agent worked, with about 5-10 seconds between each action.

Impact on the Broader Web

It’s unclear when Project Mariner will roll out to Google’s massive user base, but when it does, these agents will have a significant impact on the broader web. The web is designed for humans to use it, but Google’s AI agents could change that standard.

AI Agents in Various Industries

Google DeepMind has also been working on other AI agents across various industries:

Deep Research: An AI agent aimed at helping developers with coding tasks. It integrates directly into GitHub workflows, allowing Jules to view existing work and make changes directly in GitHub.
Jules: A developer-focused AI agent designed to assist with coding tasks, integrating directly into GitHub workflows.
Game Navigation: Google DeepMind is working on an AI agent to help users navigate video games. Building on its long history of creating game-playing AI, this prototype is being tested in collaboration with game developers like Supercell.

Impact on the Broader Web

The unveiling of Project Mariner marks a significant step forward in AI research and has the potential to change how we interact with websites forever. With Google’s massive user base and the AI agents’ capabilities, this technology could revolutionize various industries and create new opportunities for businesses and users alike.