Arc is one of the few companies doing really fascinating things in the browser space. It’s certainly the first browser that has convinced me that adding AI features to search results is actually useful. But all this happens on the computer side. The fresh Arc Search app changes this in a gigantic way.
Arc Search is based on the belief that the browser, search engine and AI chatbot can work together to give you an enjoyable online experience, rather than fighting for advertising space or creating silos (Microsoft Edge vs. Bing, Google Chrome vs. Bard).
Source: Khamosh Pathak
The app starts with a very plain search bar. Search for a term, tap Browse for me button, and Arc Search will launch, searching the six best sites that match your keywords, scanning them using artificial intelligence, and creating a very readable results page especially for you, also using artificial intelligence.
You get a summary that goes far beyond the results that Google Bard or ChatGPT can offer. Because Arc Search reads web pages live, it has the latest information and provides it in two different sections.
First, you’ll see a bullet list with quick information. This is something that customary AI chatbots are obviously good at, but you can then scroll down to see a detailed breakdown of each point, giving you additional information and, importantly, additional context. Arc will also show you what sites were used to find information. If you want, you can visit more websites and dig into the details.
This all happens through an interface that’s really effortless to apply – it’s visually spotless and free of ads and trackers. It is not a perfect system and has the same limitations as basic AI models (Arc Search uses a combination of OpenAI and other tools). While there is a risk of AI hallucinations and the risk of key facts being missed, overall the results are worth reading.
The interface is quite simplistic, which reminds me of Quiche’s customizable browser. The tabs and URL bar can be accessed via the button; all settings are hidden behind the menu. The main goal is search and this is the button we focus on. The combination of a plain interface, a really useful AI search engine, and ad-free browsing everywhere makes it a great contender for the fresh default iPhone browser for me. This is for you?
