Chrome Browser Update Carries Potential Consequences for Microsoft Windows Users
Republished on January 3, new leaks signal a fresh Microsoft versus Google AI competition for Windows users, as a pre-release Chrome feature leaks.
Google is determined to keep Chrome within its grip, pushing back against the DOJ's push to force the sale of the browser. But Chrome shows remarkable resilience, just as it does with a new update that poses a significant problem for Microsoft and its Windows OS.
Microsoft has made considerable efforts to divert Chrome users to its Edge browser, drawing criticism for the obnoxious prompts and ads integrated within Windows itself, including ones that disrupt Chrome installations on a PC. Although this strategy has proved ineffective, Microsoft has also deployed a more potent tactic, pushing users towards Edge for security reasons, particularly within a work environment. But if users switch to Edge at work, perhaps they will do the same at home.
As highlighted by Neowin from Statcounter's latest data, "Chrome kicks off 2025 with a strong and unreachable 66.88% market share, expanding its market share by 0.5 points in a month and 1.65 points year-on-year." As such, it appears that the Microsoft Windows campaign is failing to achieve its objectives.
The latest Windows ads promoting Edge surfaced during development just before the holidays, with Windows Latest reporting that "Microsoft Edge will not cease pestering users to set it as default on Windows 11." However, while there is some conversion, it is not sufficient to challenge Chrome. I've reached out to both Microsoft and Google for their perspectives on these figures.
In fairness to Google's PR team, they have demonstrated equal resilience, deflecting various recent Chrome headlines—the cookie reversal, Apple's ** imaginary ad inspired by The Birds, continuous security warnings, and the excruciatingly prolonged ** Privacy Sandbox regulatory deadlock. Google doesn't need to overreact—Chrome's user base has demonstrated far greater concern for the browser's features and performance than its privacy and security record.
But 2025 could present new challenges—we are yet to see where the U.S. antitrust campaign will conclude, and while Apple has rallied to Chrome's defense, there's still a considerable distance to travel. That said, Microsoft has its own concerns. As Neowin explains, "browser makers and advocacy groups recently sent a letter to the European Commission asking it to subject Edge to DMA regulations and classify Microsoft as a gatekeeper that harms other businesses through predatory practices."
With the new year barely underway, it's already evident that the Google versus Microsoft competition is set to continue. Google is open to launching its own takeover campaigns, as reported by WindowsLatest, "be cautious Copilot—Google might add Gemini Live to Windows 11 taskbar via Chrome." Ironically, this could incite Microsoft to intensify its efforts to switch Chrome users to Edge, given how pivotal the Copilot versus Gemini battle could become as AI assumes a central role within the apps and platforms we use, and more crucially, how we use them.
"While searching for Recent Windows 11-related Chromium additions," WindowsLatest explains, "we discovered a Chromium patch that fixes 'floaty detach on Windows.', apparently related to Gemini Live, codenamed 'GLIC' in Chrome... Up until now, Gemini Live has been exclusive to the Gemini app on Android and iOS, but Google plans to integrate the AI into Chrome's sidebar, similar to how you can access Copilot in Microsoft Edge... But it could go a step further by adding a Gemini Live button to the taskbar... In other words, the Gemini Live interface might detach from the Chrome window and float independently. You'll be able to open that Gemini Live floating interface directly from the taskbar or system tray by clicking an icon."
As I have previously reported, the Copilot AI push appears to be central to the Windows 11 push, and it can be assumed that Copilot versus Gemini could take Edge versus Chrome to new heights. "Could Google execute this on Windows with Gemini Live in Chrome?" asks WindowsLatest. "We don't know yet, but Google seems to be performing better than Microsoft when it comes to integrating AI into OSs."
Happy new year? Perhaps not for long.
- Microsoft issues a warning to Windows users about potential security risks associated with using Chrome, as a pre-release feature of the browser could reportedly interfere with the Windows OS.
- In response to Chrome's dominance in the browser market, Microsoft has been actively promoting its Edge browser on Windows, using tactics such as obnoxious prompts and ads to encourage users to switch.
- Google, meanwhile, is facing antitrust scrutiny in the US and has received criticism for its handling of user privacy and security issues, with concerns raised by browser makers and advocacy groups.
- As the new year begins, the competition between Microsoft and Google in the browser market is expected to intensify, with both companies vying to position their browsers as the best option for users, particularly as AI integration becomes more important in apps and platforms.
