AI Browsers: Smarter Future or Rising Security Threat?
A new race among tech giants is unfolding before our eyes: who will create the first truly intelligent web browser?
Browsers integrated with Large Language Models (LLMs) can analyze webpages, process user commands, and execute actions usually done by humans.
But before being captivated by their convenience, we must confront their serious impact on cybersecurity and privacy.
Security and Privacy in LLM‑Based Browsers
By 2026, multi‑modal AI agents will become integral to digital life — systems capable of designing and executing entire chains of actions based on user instructions.
Although early versions already exist in tools like ChatGPT, full efficiency will demand that these agents run locally on users’ computers, not just in the cloud.
This shift naturally leads to the rise of the AI Browser — software operating at a deep user‑interaction level.
AI‑powered browsers can read webpages, perform commands, store and download files, and analyze personal data.
If misused or left unrestricted, this convenience can easily evolve into a serious data privacy risk.
Major Players in the Market
- Perplexity released its AI browser Comet and even proposed buying Chrome.
- OpenAI started developing its own browser.
- Google and Microsoft have already integrated Gemini and Copilot into Chrome and Edge.
- Mozilla is gradually introducing AI features directly into Firefox.
Expect to see more ads promoting “smart browser upgrades” soon — yet the real question remains: are these benefits worth the new risks?
Benefits of AI Browsers
An integrated AI assistant can simplify routine tasks:
- Summarize lengthy articles or multi‑hour videos instantly.
- Answer questions about document contents without reading them entirely.
- Perform real actions, such as adding travel items to a shopping cart.
Because operations run locally, speed and responsiveness are higher.
AI browsers can also access websites that normally block bots and use restricted sources — such as scientific journals or financial reports — for deeper analysis.
Why AI Companies Need Browsers
- Massive user base – Success in browsers means access to billions of users.
- High user stickiness – Once AI features are integrated, users rarely switch.
- Richer data – Full insight into web traffic provides invaluable training material.
- Enhanced model learning – Tracking mouse movement and clicks mimics human behavior.
- Lower operating costs – Some processing shifts to the user’s device.
- Bypassing filters – Requests originate locally and are harder to block or trace.
The Security Dangers of AI Browsers
Full access to web traffic and local files gives browsers extreme control — and risk.
Highly sensitive or confidential data could unintentionally flow into public AI systems.
Real‑world examples confirm these fears:
- Comet’s AI agent was tricked into downloading malware.
- Another test showed an AI assistant making purchases on a fake shopping site, leaking financial info.
- With file‑level access, a malicious command could delete or exfiltrate user data.
- International laws on illegal content could implicate users when browsers search autonomously.
- Traditional browser vulnerabilities amplify when combined with AI automation.
Poor implementation can even overload system resources and cause human errors from system lag.
What a Truly Secure AI Browser Should Include
To gain benefits while minimizing risks, the browser should:
- Allow AI to be enabled/disabled per website.
- Send or receive data only with explicit user consent.
- Provide local model options alongside cloud ones.
- Ask for user re‑confirmation in suspicious actions.
- Request approval before entering sensitive information or making purchases.
- Enforce system‑level restrictions for file access.
No such browser exists yet — even the smartest ones still require independent security tools to safeguard devices from real‑world cyber threats.
Source: MedadPress
www.medadpress.ir