What AI browser extensions can see
Updated 1 October 2026
AI browser extensions add a helper to Chrome, Edge or Firefox to summarise pages, write emails or fill in forms. To do that, most ask for wide permissions.
What the permission messages mean
| You see | What it means |
|---|---|
| Read and change all your data on all websites | It can see everything on every page you visit, including email, banking and work tools |
| Read your browsing history | It can see the list of sites you have visited |
| Communicate with cooperating native applications | It can talk to programs installed on your computer |
| Access the page debugger backend | It can take full control of browser tabs: click, type and read anything |
Some extensions can now act for you
Newer AI extensions can click, type and move between websites for you, using the accounts you are logged in to. That is useful, but it also means a mistake, or hidden instructions on a web page, could make it do something you did not want.
What to do
- Type
chrome://extensions(oredge://extensions) in the address bar. - Remove extensions you do not use.
- For the ones you keep, select Details and set Site access to “On click” or “On specific sites” where you can.
- Only install extensions from companies you trust.
Our self-check lists known AI extensions and how to switch them off.