Browsers Are Stuck in the Past

I was recently talking to a friend about his upcoming interview on browsers. That’s when it struck me — how often do we not notice what a browser really is? It’s a piece of software that can do anything, yet we only think of it as a tool to access the web.

At its core, a browser is just software that connects us to the open web. We type a link, press enter, and voilà, a business website opens. Or, if you’re using Chrome like me, you type a query, and Google Search takes over.

But is that all a browser is meant for? Primarily, yes. But is that the true potential of a browser?

A browser as software could make life much simpler by automating my recurring actions, such as:

• Ordering weekly groceries with a nudge

• Checking my bank balance or tracking my portfolio growth

• Highlighting key updates from Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook

• Recommending the best content from YouTube, Netflix, Prime, etc.

I’ve been using Chrome for these tasks every week for the last 10 years, yet I still have to do them manually. How has the browser evolved to make my life easier?

The true potential of a browser will only be realized when it eliminates redundant tasks. If that happens, we as a society will have access to only the most critical information, allowing us to focus our energy elsewhere.

A browser is to the web what a mobile screen with apps is. Each app represents a website or business, but do we really need an app interface if we can get the highlights and take action directly? Imagine if I didn’t need my bank’s website or app at all — if I could simply check my balance, send money, and complete transactions just by asking my browser to do it.

The point I’m getting to: A browser shouldn’t just be a gateway to the open web — it should be a gateway to outcomes.