The Browser Company, known for its popular browser Arc, is taking a new direction with an entirely fresh product aimed at a broader audience. CEO Josh Miller, who has led the company’s rapid rise with Arc, shared insights on this upcoming project, which takes a more straightforward approach to web browsing. Arc has been a hit among tech-savvy users, but its complexity and unique interface have limited its mainstream appeal. “Arc is loved by its users, but it’s ultimately a power-user tool,” says Miller. “We realized that its extensive customization and innovative design are barriers to widespread adoption.”
Arc has grown fourfold this year, though its intricate features, such as spaces, profiles, and an unconventional sidebar, make it a steep learning curve for many. This success has created a paradox: a strong, loyal user base, but limited growth potential. In response, The Browser Company has decided to keep Arc as it is—stable and continuously supported—but without adding major new features. Instead, the focus shifts to building a new browser, simpler by design and developed from the ground up for accessibility.
Miller insists that Arc isn’t going anywhere despite reassurances that often precede product phase-outs. Arc will continue receiving bug fixes, security improvements, and regular updates. Still, the core of the development team is now channeling its energy toward the new browser, set to arrive as early as next year.
This new browser, Miller explains, will be a more streamlined experience. It will feature conventional horizontal tabs and fewer complex options, making it easier for first-time users to pick up immediately. The Browser Company aims to make the first 90 seconds intuitive, allowing users to experience its capabilities without a tutorial. Over time, it will reveal additional tools that extend beyond basic browsing, including powerful, AI-driven assistance for routine tasks like data entry, navigation between web apps, and other workflows.
A major component of the vision is what Miller calls the “internet computer”—a proactive browser that can serve as an application platform. Think of it as a digital assistant that, with AI integration, understands your habits and can automate repetitive tasks. For example, teachers who spend hours managing spreadsheets and emails or business owners frequently switching between orders and customer service can offload these tasks to the browser.
To accomplish this, The Browser Company is leveraging advancements like Anthropic’s “Computer use” AI, a tool that can automate and streamline cross-application workflows. This approach aims to move beyond static browsing by making the browser a hands-on assistant.
The challenges, however, are considerable. Arc’s current setup as a highly customizable, high-functionality browser has pushed The Browser Company to recognize the limitations of complexity. Moving forward, the new browser aims to balance simplicity with smart AI-driven features, bringing the vision full circle to a universal, user-friendly tool.
With the new browser’s launch just around the corner, Miller remains tight-lipped on many specifics. But if everything goes according to plan, the browser company may soon offer the most accessible and powerful browser experience on the market—a vision they originally set out to create.
