Google Chrome adds Split View and PDF tools as browser competition heats up

Google Chrome

• Chrome adds Split View, PDF annotation, and Drive save features
• Split View lets users view two webpages side by side
• PDFs can be annotated and saved directly to Google Drive

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Google is rolling out a fresh batch of features for Chrome as competition intensifies from AI-focused browser startups. While not directly tied to artificial intelligence, the updates signal a more proactive approach as rivals such as OpenAI and Perplexity experiment with agent-driven browsing experiences.

New tools for everyday browsing

The latest update to Google Chrome introduces three new features: Split View, built-in PDF annotations and a Save to Google Drive option. Together, they aim to make the browser more useful for multitasking and document handling without requiring third-party apps.

Split View allows users to place two webpages side-by-side within a single window. Tabs can be dragged to either edge of the browser or opened directly into Split View via a right-click option. Once enabled, both pages snap neatly into place, making it easier to reference two sites simultaneously, compare information or watch a video while taking notes. The layout can be exited through a simple right-click command.

Chrome is also gaining native PDF annotation tools. Users can now highlight text, add notes and carry out basic document tasks directly inside the browser. This reduces the need to download files and open them in separate applications for signing, filling in forms or marking up documents. For many users, that alone could remove a long-standing friction point.

The third addition deepens Chrome’s integration with Google Drive. Instead of saving PDFs locally, users can now send them straight to their Drive account. Saved files will appear in a dedicated “Saved from Chrome” folder, making retrieval more straightforward and reducing desktop clutter.

Responding to the new browser wars

Although these features are not AI-driven, they arrive amid mounting pressure from AI-native competitors. Google has already embedded its Gemini assistant into Chrome to counter offerings from companies such as OpenAI and Perplexity AI, both of which are exploring so-called agentic browsers.

The broader shift reflects what some have dubbed a new round of browser wars. Startups are experimenting with AI that can summarise content, automate tasks and manage workflows directly within the browsing experience. Google, long the dominant force in the space, appears keen to ensure Chrome does not look static by comparison.

More changes are also on the horizon. Support for vertical tabs, a feature popularised by alternative browsers such as Arc and later adopted in Dia, is currently available behind an experimental flag in Chrome and is expected to roll out more widely. Google recently expanded Gemini-powered features to Chromebook users as well, reinforcing its AI-first direction.