The use of AI tools in workplaces is no longer a novelty. Instead, it has become a necessity, especially in today’s competitive business market. As we step into 2026, AI has permeated different domains, leading to the development of agentic software, agentic browsers, and AI browser extensions.
AI browser extensions are one of the most commonly used AI tools. A recent report by LayerX shows that 99% of enterprise users have at least one extension installed, and 15% have an AI extension installed.
However, the trend of employing AI browser extensions doesn’t come with just benefits. The report also reveals the hidden security risks in using these extensions. Read to find more about what drives businesses to employ more AI browser extensions and the dangers they pose.
What are AI Browser Extensions?
AI integration has transformed how work is performed. By providing assistance and reducing human error, it has proven to accelerate workflow and productivity in
workplaces. It has stepped into browsers too – enhancing their functionality and providing them with features that can transform them into an organisation’s core operating system.
These AI browser extensions function within browsers to run automated tasks and enhance web browsing. These software add-ons can be installed in web browsers like Chrome, just like other browser extensions. They are used to integrate smart features into the browser and enable users to customise their browser experience.
From assisting writing to boosting sales and marketing productivity, they have developed into practical business tools by providing a user-friendly interface to enhance the web browsing experience.
This is exactly what enterprises want. They are looking for lower-friction ways to add artificial intelligence to their work. They want tools that flawlessly fit and improve existing workflow and browsers – not another sophisticated new platform.
Evolution of AI Browser Extensions
The early generation of AI extensions was used to create content – paraphrasing, rephrasing and summarising text.
Its user-friendly interface enabled users from all backgrounds – students, experts, and entrepreneurs- to enjoy a personalised browsing experience without any sophistication or expert knowledge.
Now, new and developed AI extensions perform tasks like organising bookmarks, scheduling events, screen resumes – thus making the browser not just a screen to scroll and view but an operating system. The primary functions of these extensions are automation of mundane tasks, minimising human input and increasing productivity.
Instead of manually performing the tasks, users can just search for and find AI extensions that can perform them more efficiently and install them into their browsers.
How They Help Enterprises
The LayerX’s Enterprise Browser Extension Security Report 2026 shows how popular these AI browser extensions have become among businesses.
With the new technological advancements, AI browser extensions have evolved and are now widely being used by businesses for assisting sales and marketing teams, CRM (customer relationship management) updates and cross-platform data automation.
Apart from reducing manual effort, the main highlight of these extensions is that they run directly within the browsers. This helps users access their features without
switching platforms. Extensions like Bardeen can integrate with over 100 apps and move data between them automatically. They save users’ time by avoiding the manual copy-paste work.
Language support and translation services are the other highlights of extensions that are powered by LLMs (large language models). They give users access to information across the web without the issue of language barriers, by automatically translating web pages into different languages.
Task automation decreases the time spent reading content across the web with features like quick summaries of web pages, PDFs, and even YouTube videos. They can also manage emails and fill out forms. All these features together increase the company’s overall productivity by saving time and effort.
Some Notable AI Browser Extensions
Perplexity Comet- This research-focused platform provides AI responses within the browser. This saves time by eliminating the need for switching between browsers and chatbots. Users can ask questions without having to leave the current page.
Key Features-
- analysing and answering questions
- summarising
- providing image descriptions
- composing emails
- schedule meetings
- filling out forms
Monica – This AI assistant combines multiple language and multimodal models like GPT-5, Claude 4.5, and Gemini 2.5 into a single browser extension.
Key Features-
- AI Memo to save and organise information from browsing sessions
- Image generation
- Floating toolbar above text for quick actions like summarising, translating and explaining
- Strategic analysis
Bardeen – This automation tool is known as one of the efficient AI browser extensions. It can connect with over 100 apps, including Google Sheets, Slack and Zoom and move data between them automatically.
Key features-
- Scrape data of clients from the web and enrich CRM records automatically
- Form filling and sending messages
- Enables users to customise workflow with pre-built templates
Security Risks Enterprises Should Watch
The LayerX 2026 report also reveals that AI extensions are 60% more likely to have a CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) and are three times more likely to have access to cookies. It also exposed that they are six times more likely to have increased their permissions in the past year.
The report demonstrates the security blind spots in AI browser extensions. While the security risks that accompany “shadow” AI and GenAI consumption were widely
discussed, the hidden dangers of AI browser extensions have not received much attention.
Exposure of session tokens, data extraction, and phishing are some of the consequences that can follow from the enabling of multiple permissions and unmonitored use of AI browser extensions.
However, banning these extensions is not the answer to this issue. They should be considered like any other high-risk software category that requires strong security controls and enterprise constraints over its use.
Here are some steps to be taken to prevent the bad outcomes;
- Regular auditing of the organisation’s extension threat surface, covering all browsers
- Apply stricter security controls to AI extensions and monitor how they interact with enterprise environments
- Monitor updates and check for changes in permissions or ownerships, as these extensions are not static
Takeaways
The most important thing that should be noted is that, while AI browser extensions are constantly evolving and their uses can be transformational for businesses, equal measures should be taken to secure them. They are not a peripheral risk but one that sits within the browser, the core workspace of the enterprise.
The right approach is to treat them as high-risk software. Regular monitoring and auditing, and applying guardrails, keep the browser and the organisation’s data safe.
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