From “Search & Click” to “Ask & Do”
Browser wars were not on my bingo card this year, but here we are.
You know, the thing you use to “look stuff up.” Chrome, Safari, Edge… those.
Browsers are no longer just windows to the web. The next frontier is browsers that think and act on your behalf, turning passive search into active assistance. Comet by Perplexity, DIA Browser, Pieces and OpenAI’s upcoming browser are racing to redefine this experience.
What's Changing?
OLD WAY:
You type in a search, click through websites, compare options, and take action yourself.
NEW WAY:
You just ask:
“Find me a local CPA that works with nonprofits and offers flat-rate pricing.”
Or
“Book the best hotel near our conference with free parking and Wi-Fi.”
Then the AI in the browser does the work—research, compare, summarize, and sometimes even take action for you.
See 10 use cases in action here: https://x.com/dr_cintas/status/1945525044529992053
Why Are They Rushing to Own the Browser
1. Browsers = Gatekeepers of User Data & Behavior
If you own the browser, you control:
Context: what users see, when, and why
Actions: browsing patterns, clicks, purchases
Retention: active engagement via built-in agents
That means more user data, stronger engagement loops, and the power to build advanced services on top. Owning the browser ≈ owning attention and user-first-party data.
2. Next-Gen UX with Agentic AI
Traditional browsers are evolving with AI modes (Chrome AI, Edge Copilot but they are still add-ons). Reimagining the browser from the ground up, not as extensions, but as intelligent interfaces.
These new entrants:
Chromium-based, available now to Perplexity Max subscribers ($200/month), invite-only.
Features: AI assistant sidebar summarizing, scheduling, shopping, tab management, and context retention.
Privacy-first (local data storage, tracking controls)
Perplexity CEO notes a bold ambition: transform browsers into “operating systems” of workflows, enabling “infinite retention.” He bought the os.ai domain to redirect to Comet.
DIA (by The Browser Company)
Successor to Arc, embraces AI “as the default mode”
Interface suggestions based on workflows, proactive memory (auto summaries, session recall), AI-driven tab/bookmark management.
Focus: AI not as a helper but as the interface itself.
OpenAI’s Browser (Coming Soon)
Reported arrival in “a few weeks,” under the code name Aura.
Integrates ChatGPT and Operator agents directly, keeping user actions “inside” rather than redirecting.
Playing for big stakes: default behavior, first-party data, and enterprise alignment.
Pieces (HQ in Cincinnati)
Pieces captures and remembers your browser activity tabs, snippets, links, then lets you ask about it later. (“What was I researching yesterday about supplier costs?”) This means less time digging through browser history and more time focused on decision‑making.
It doesn’t just fetch info, it remembers, organizes, and helps act on it all without leaving the page.
Data & Engagement: The Kingmaker
First-party insights
AI browsers can collect nuanced data on what you ask, how you navigate, and what you act on.Retention via Agents
Agents that automate tasks (shopping, scheduling, summarizing) make browsers sticky, why leave when your assistant lives inside?Platform Expansion
With browser control, companies can layer on productivity tools, e‑commerce, advertising, and enterprise workflow integrations.
Why It’s Important To You
Because an AI-native browser:
Replaces search engines as starting points
Becomes the portal for everything you do online
The AI browser wars are far more consequential than another interface tweak.
Questions you should be asking yourself:
Is my website ready to answer the questions the AI’s are looking for?
Does it have clear services, pricing, and location, etc?
Does it have FAQs, reviews, and testimonials?
Make sure it's updated so AI can read what’s there!
Also, make sure your hosting company isn’t blocking AIs from browsing your website.
Good AI Consultants Are Like PGA Caddies
🏌️♂️ Watching Full Swing Season 3 episode 4 “Carrying the Burden”, one line stopped me in my tracks:
“A good caddie is the difference between being the top 10 golfer in the world or the top 500.”
It hit me that’s exactly what great AI consulting is.
Every business today is standing on the tee box of transformation. The tools are there. The pressure is on. And success doesn’t just depend on talent, it depends on who’s guiding you.
A great caddie knows the course.
They read the wind and the terrain.
They talk you out of the wrong club.
They keep you focused after a bad hole.
And they help you win when the margin for error is razor thin.
AI is changing the game, but just having the tools isn’t enough. Who’s in your corner makes the difference between an industry leader and an industry laggard.
If you’re trying to win in today’s AI economy, maybe it’s time to find your caddie.
When most people think of the PGA Tour, they picture the pros: the smooth swings, the pinpoint drives, the million-dollar putts. What often goes unnoticed is the quiet expert by their side, the caddie. They’re not just carrying clubs. They’re reading the greens, adjusting the strategy, resetting the player’s mindset, and helping them win, one shot at a time.
AI consulting isn’t so different.
At first glance, artificial intelligence can feel overwhelming like being dropped into the middle of a championship golf course with no map, no game plan, and no idea what club to use. That’s where we come in.
We’re Not Swinging the Clubs. You Are!
You know your business better than anyone. Your products, your people, your customers, that’s your game. But when it comes to navigating the course of AI adoption, most companies don’t know which tools to use, where the hazards are, or how to read the terrain of ethical use, training, or implementation.
As AI consultants, we’re your caddie. We don’t take the swing, but we make sure you’re lining up the right shot with the right club.
We walk the course with you. We know the conditions, what’s changing in the AI landscape and how it affects your business. We help you navigate the tough lies (like regulatory risk), coach you when you’re in your head (like AI fatigue or fear), and keep you focused on what matters, results.
What a Great Caddie (or AI Consultant) Does:
Course strategy: We map your AI journey before you start, laying out a game plan aligned to your goals.
Club selection: You don’t need every AI tool out there. We help you pick the right one for the job.
Mindset reset: AI can trigger resistance, overwhelm, or “shiny object syndrome.” We reset your mindset for progress over perfection.
Reading the green: We help you see what’s coming, new risks, new use cases, and opportunities hiding in plain sight.
Pacing the game: Like a long 18 holes, AI adoption isn’t a sprint. We make sure you don't burn out early or overcomplicate the process.
Having someone who’s walked the AI course hundreds of times gives you a distinct advantage. It means fewer wasted strokes, better decision-making, and more wins. Businesses that go it alone often find themselves stuck in the rough, burned out on tools that didn’t fit, or stalled out in pilot purgatory.
With a great caddie, you can swing with confidence. We’ll carry the weight, guide your focus, and walk beside you, so you can do what you do best: lead your business forward.
And just like golf, it’s a mental game as much as a technical one. You don’t need to become an AI expert overnight. You just need the right guide walking the course with you.
So… ready to tee off with a caddie who’s been here before?
Prompt Tip
You know how much I love adding “ask me questions for clarity” after prompt/context to get a 10x better output.
Now, try this after getting the output. Say, critique your writing or output, is there anything you would change?
AI is Good For Business
It is a huge honor to be interviewed for the Realm Magazine for the work we are doing in AI. Thank you, Carrie Blackmore, for the write up.
https://realmcincinnati.com/local-experts-say-ai-is-good-for-business/
Proving Ground by The Circuit
Submit your AI use cases by July 18 if you are looking for assistance in your AI project. The project will be built by professionals and provided up to $100,000 in funding for the development. Must be in the Greater Cincinnati region to apply. No fee to apply. This is a wonderful opportunity. Best of luck to you all!
Greater Cincinnati Nonprofit Hackathon
Nonprofits submit your use cases by August 1. Let us know if you need help completing the form. It takes less than 2 minutes. Happy to jump on a call with you to complete it. https://go.oncehub.com/kendraramirez
We are moving at the speed of AI with this incredible team from Disruption Now and many volunteers from the CincyAI community are leading an in person nonprofit hackathon on September 6.
The Future of Data Hackathon is a one-day event and the precursor to MidwestCon, bringing together teams of students and professionals to help Cincinnati-area nonprofits solve real technology and data challenges.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1iP8r1bPa5ztnDBObM8qavkUlGqsF80nZDNcGeOwKfm0/edit
2025 AI Adventures
New events are added weekly. Since our community spans over 32 states, we’re making it easier than ever for you to join the conversation from anywhere. These virtual sessions are designed to be interactive and packed with real use cases you can apply immediately.
July
July 24 Fort Thomas Google Marketing and AI for Social Media from 12-1 in person. https://business.nkychamber.com/events/Details/fort-thomas-business-council-merging-google-marketing-with-ai-for-social-success-1267924?sourceTypeId=Website
August
August 5 CincyAI from 3-5 EST at UC Digital Futures building. Free to attend. In person only. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1344523669489?aff=oddtdtcreator
August 12 Miami Valley HR 11:15-1 in Dayton, OH https://mvhra.mightevent.com/events/event-Details.cfm?eventKey=8054
August 13 Crossroads Impact Summit for Nonprofits
September
September 2 CincyAI from 3-5 EST at UC Digital Futures building. Free to attend. In person only.
September 6 Nonprofit Hackathon- Nonprofits submit your use cases by Aug 1. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1iP8r1bPa5ztnDBObM8qavkUlGqsF80nZDNcGeOwKfm0/edit
September 10-11 MidwestCon https://midwestcon.live/
This conference is gathering the top innovators, policymakers, creators, and visionaries from across the globe to tackle today’s emerging tech challenges.
September 18 Best in Tech Awards hosted by The Circuit from 5-9 pm https://thecircuit.net/event/best-of-tech-awards-2/
I love answering your AI questions. Feel free to message me.
Where AI and inspiration collide!
Kendra Ramirez
KendraRamirez.com
We provide AI Speaking and Training, AI Readiness Assessments, AI Strategy, AI roadmap and implementation, and AI Coaching for small to mid-size businesses and nonprofits.
**For those new to my work, I have been in tech my whole career. Over 15 years of running my digital agency (website, social media, and lead generation) and 7 years of helping businesses navigate AI. Over the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of leading over 100 training and speaking sessions, empowering businesses to embrace the transformative potential of AI. My passion lies in simplifying complex technologies to help organizations grow, innovate, and thrive in an ever-changing landscape.
I am so excited that you are on this journey with me! Thank you! 🤗
I have been writing weekly about AI here for over two years. You can search all of my enewsletters here if you are looking to brush up on a certain topic. kendratech.substack.com
I just love the caddie metaphor, it’s so good!