At Google I/O 2025, Google unveiled a groundbreaking feature: the integration of its AI model, Gemini, directly into Chrome DevTools. This addition aims to make web development more intuitive, especially for those who might not be seasoned developers.
What is the AI Assistant in Chrome DevTools?
Think of the AI Assistant as a helpful companion within Chrome DevTools. It's designed to assist developers by:
Answering Questions: If you're unsure about a particular piece of code or why something isn't working, you can ask the assistant directly within DevTools.
Providing Suggestions: It can recommend improvements or fixes for your code, helping you optimize your website's performance.
Applying Changes: With your permission, the assistant can make changes to your code, streamlining the development process.
All this happens inside the tool you already use daily.
How To Enable It
To get started with the AI Assistant:
- Download Chrome Canary: Ensure you're using (version 131 or higher).
- Sign In: Log in with your Google account.
- Enable AI Features: Navigate to DevTools > Settings > AI Innovations and toggle on AI Assistance.
- Set Language: Ensure your DevTools language is set to English (US).
- Start Using: Look for the "Ask AI" button within DevTools to begin interacting with the assistant.
It’s that simple to try.
What Developers Are Saying
Early users seem split on how helpful the new AI Assistant really is. A lot of developers like how it makes quick fixes easier — especially for things like tweaking CSS or checking accessibility. It definitely saves time.
But there are still a few bumps.
"Google AI for Chrome dev tools is so bad that I feel embarrassed for Google."
That may sound brutal, but it reflects what some devs are feeling: the assistant doesn’t always understand complex applications or workflows. It’s great with simpler setups, but when you’re working with something dynamic or layered, it can miss the mark.
"Things get trickier when you start dealing with complex pages with dynamic content and high number of elements."
So while it's a strong performer with static content, it struggles with dynamic or lazy-loaded pages — something most real-world web apps rely on.
Another concern? Privacy. The AI needs to see your page content, which might be fine for personal projects, but raises eyebrows when you're working with client or internal tools.
Still, even with these concerns, most early adopters agree it’s a promising tool. It's already useful for fast debugging and explanation tasks — just don’t expect deep contextual awareness… yet.
Final Thoughts
This AI Assistant in Chrome DevTools? It’s not magic — yet. But it’s a big move in the right direction.
It’s already helping people solve everyday coding annoyances faster. Need to find a broken style? Confused by a console error? The assistant can step in like a second pair of eyes. That’s useful.
Still, it’s early. Context matters in real-world projects, and right now, the assistant isn’t always great at that. Some devs love it. Others are frustrated. But that’s how tools grow.
If Google keeps listening — and improving — this could become one of the most powerful features inside DevTools. For now, it’s a solid companion, especially for solo devs or anyone who just wants quick help without jumping between tabs and Stack Overflow.
Try it. Break it. Talk about it. That’s how it gets better.
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