Google Tests Floating AI Search Bar Outside Chrome
Google is experimenting with a new feature that could revolutionize the way users interact with web searches on desktop devices. The company is testing a floating, keyboard-triggered AI search bar that operates independently of the Google Chrome browser window, allowing users to access AI-powered search directly without needing to open their browser.
Codenamed “Project Loom,” this floating search bar is currently available in Chrome Canary, Google’s experimental developer version of Chrome. The feature detaches the traditional URL bar from the Chrome browser and presents a sleek search interface that appears in the center of the screen when activated by a key combination.
The new UI replaces the standard search box with an “Ask anything” field, prioritizing AI-driven queries as the default mode instead of an optional sidebar feature. Users can still perform regular web searches, but the AI assistant is designed to be the primary interaction method.
Beyond search, the pop-up window incorporates a “+” menu, expanding its functionality to support image uploads, document analysis, and AI-generated artwork creation from within the same interface. This integration aims to streamline the user’s research workflow by consolidating multiple tasks—searching, file inspection, and creative generation—into a single accessible window that overlays the desktop.
This approach distinguishes Google’s feature from similar tools like Microsoft Edge’s floating search bar, which treats AI functions as separate features rather than integrating them into one continuous input field.
Currently, the Everywhere Omnibox remains experimental and is accessible only through special developer flags within Chrome Canary. It has not been confirmed when or if this feature will be included in an official Chrome release. Historically, Google often modifies or removes experimental tools before they become publicly available, leaving the future of this AI search bar uncertain.
If successfully launched, Project Loom could significantly enhance productivity and user experience by providing seamless AI-assisted search and creative tools outside the confines of a traditional browser window.