Arc’s new iPhone browser wants to be your search companion | TechCrunch


The Browser Company, the developer of the first Arc app for iPhone launched last year, has introduced a new mobile app, Arc Search. This app, powered by AI, is focused on providing search results. The AI feature, “Browse Me,” generates a well-designed web page with information related to the search query, using examples from OpenAI and others to read at least six pages and create a new page with various sections.

Arc Search exhibited its capabilities when a search for “How to make a perfectly scrambled egg” yielded a page with sections like “Ingredients and Tools,” “Poaching Method,” “Cooking Method,” along with helpful pictures and videos. Similarly, a search for “Changes Apple made to the App Store in response to DMA” provided information on announcements by the Cupertino-based tech giant, demonstrating the AI-powered capabilities of Arc Search.

In addition to AI-driven features, users have the option to use traditional search engines such as Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, or Ecosia. Furthermore, the desktop client now enables users to install Preplexity as their search engine. The mobile client, however, is yet to receive confirmation on this option. Arc Search also includes a page reading mode for easy reading and the ability to save tabs after a day, along with a tab switcher on the bottom bar for quick access to open tabs.


Moreover, Arc Search provides a seamless browsing experience by blocking GDPR and email popups, ads, and trackers. As an added convenience, users can set Arc Search as their default browser on iPhone. The design of the browser was aimed at creating a faster and more interactive browsing experience, aligning with the behavior of most mobile browsers. The goal is to give users a sense of interacting with an AI Agent that enhances search, condenses content, and presents it more effectively.

Arc Search plans to amalgamate all web-browser clients in the future, in addition to implementing browser optimization. The company’s continuous efforts in upgrading the Windows client emphasize the commitment to offering a seamless browsing experience. The previously launched waiting list for the Mac has now been made available to everyone for download, while the Windows client is currently in beta and still requires a waiting list. With Arc Search, the company aims to provide a user-friendly environment, eliminating the need for account creation to start browsing right away.

Author: OpenAI