Google's Gemini AI assistant is now live inside Chrome for desktop users in the UK, bringing tab-level intelligence, image editing, and deep Google ecosystem hooks to one of the biggest markets the feature was still missing. The rollout starts today on Windows and Mac, marked by a new "Ask Gemini" button with a sparkle icon in the upper right corner of the browser. The feature opens Gemini in a sidebar where users can interact with the AI while staying on their current page.
Gemini in Chrome can summarize web pages, compare information across multiple open tabs, and pull context from past conversations for more personalized responses. The AI is integrated with Calendar, Gmail, Maps, and YouTube, letting users schedule meetings, draft emails, check locations, or ask questions about a video they're watching without switching apps. The update includes Nano Banana 2, an AI tool that transforms images on the web through simple text prompts, working directly from the browser's sidebar.
UK iOS users get the feature next month, Google confirmed.
Google's blog post from Charmaine Dsilva notes the models are trained to recognize known threats including prompt injection, and the assistant asks for confirmation before completing sensitive actions. Users who prefer not to use the feature can right-click the Ask Gemini button and select Unpin to remove it.
Gemini's Chrome integration was initially limited to AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers. Google expanded access to all desktop users in the US in September 2025, followed by rollouts to over 50 countries. The UK arrival fills a notable gap in that global expansion.
The sidebar sits on the right by default but can be moved to the left through Chrome Settings > Appearance > Side panel position. A pop-out button in the Gemini sidebar converts it into a floating window.
