ChatGPT just got a major upgrade — here’s what's new and 7 prompts to try it

(Image credit: Shutterstock) OpenAI announced Friday (July 31) that ChatGPT is getting deeper browser integration through both its Chrome extension and desktop app, making it easier to ask questions about what you're already looking at online instead of constantly copying and pasting text into a chat.The update comes just weeks after the company decided to sunset ChatGPT Atlas. Now, rather than utilizing ChatGPT capabilities in a different browser, users can explore new features right in Chrome.With ChatGPT's Side Chat, users can ask questions about YouTube videos, understand highlighted text and reference multiple open tabs at once. On desktop, the ChatGPT app can now suggest URLs as you type, let you revisit browser history and give you more control over how that browsing data is managed.For those who have been using Gemini in Chrome for awhile, the feature is almost identical, just with a different AI model.Here are the features rolling out now.How to try itGood news for anyone with too many tabs: ChatGPT is getting better around the web. 🧩 Chrome extension: In Side Chat, ask about a YouTube video, reference your open tabs, or highlight text on a page and ask away. 💻 Desktop app: Get URL suggestions as you type, revisit… pic.twitter.com/BIjS94jBQcJuly 30, 2026You'll need either the latest version of the ChatGPT desktop app or the ChatGPT Chrome extension. Once you've updated, simply open any webpage or YouTube video.Launch ChatGPT Side Chat from the browser. From there you can highlight text or simply ask a question about the page you're viewing. If you're using the desktop app, begin typing a website and watch for URL suggestions. If you've enabled browser history, ChatGPT can also reference pages you've recently visited.The biggest change is that you no longer have to copy links or paste long sections of text before asking for help. Try these prompts to explore what ChatGPT Side Chat can do.Summarize a YouTube video (Image credit: OpenAI/ChatGPT)Prompt: Summarize this video in five bullet points. Then tell me the three most useful tips and approximately when they appear.Instead of watching a 45-minute tutorial from beginning to end, let ChatGPT do the heavy lifting and get bullet points. From there, you can decide if you want to watch and review the full video.Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.2. Compare all of your open tabs Prompt: Compare all of my open tabs. Show me the biggest differences, recommend the best option for my needs and explain why.Whether you're shopping for a laptop or researching vacation destinations, ChatGPT can help make sense of multiple pages without you manually switching back and forth.3. Explain complicated articles (Image credit: OpenAI/ChatGPT)Prompt: Explain this in plain English as if you've never heard of this topic before. Avoid technical jargon and give me one real-world example.From news stories to research, now you can ask ChatGPT questions about what you're reading to help you understand it better.4. Fact-check what you're reading Prompt: Does this claim seem accurate? Point out anything that might be misleading or missing important context.This might be my favorite use case. Now, instead of opening another search tab to see if what you're reading is factually accurate, you can ask ChatGPT and have it cite the original source.5. Turn a webpage into notes (Image credit: OpenAI/ChatGPT)Prompt: Turn this page into study notes with key facts, important terms and five questions I should know the answers to.Just in time for back-to-school, this feature will surely be a game changer for students or anyone doing research.6. Find the important information Prompt: What are the three most surprising facts on this page? Also tell me anything the average reader would probably overlook.All too often, long articles bury the best details. To ensure you don't miss a thing, give this prompt a try. ChatGPT could also give you the information in bullet points if you prefer.7. Organize your research (Image credit: OpenAI/ChatGPT)Prompt: Group my open tabs by topic. Tell me which ones are duplicates, which are worth keeping open and which I can probably close.When I'm doing research, I'll often open tab after tab without even realizing it. With a prompt like this and ChatGPT Side Chat, you can avoid tab overload.Bottom line If you spend your day reading articles, comparing products, watching tutorials or doing online research, it's one of those quality-of-life upgrades that quickly becomes hard to live without.I like the ability to ask questions directly about the pages I'm viewing without moving to a new tab. you're viewing makes ChatGPT feel much more like a built-in research assistant than a separate chatbot.You'll have to give ChatGPT Side Chat a try for yourself to see if it's worth using. Don't worry if you download it and still don't have access. OpenAI is rolling out this product slowly. But from what I've experienced, it seems like a useful update. I'm still finding new ways to get the most out of this browser feature. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Subscribe to Tom's Guide on YouTube and follow us on TikTok. Finally, you can visit our dedicated Tom's Guide Savings Squad hub for expert help on getting the best products for less. More from Tom's GuideI just learned your Claude AI chats could show up in Google — here's how to check yoursI stopped using ChatGPT for everything — here are 5 prompts I only run in ClaudeI use Gemini Spark daily — here are 7 prompts that show what it can really do Amanda Caswell is the AI Editor at Tom's Guide and one of today’s leading voices in AI and technology. A celebrated contributor to various news outlets, her sharp insights and relatable storytelling have earned her a loyal readership. Amanda’s work has been recognized with prestigious honors, including outstanding contribution to media.Known for her ability to bring clarity to even the most complex topics, Amanda seamlessly blends innovation and creativity, inspiring readers to embrace the power of AI and emerging technologies. As a certified prompt engineer, she continues to push the boundaries of how humans and AI can work together.Beyond her journalism career, Amanda is a long-distance runner and mom of three. She lives in New Jersey.