Apple is addressing one of Safari's long-standing weaknesses by turning to artificial intelligence. The browser has struggled to match the extensive library of extensions found in rivals like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, largely because Apple's development requirements have been strict. Now the company is inviting users to essentially "vibe-code" their own extensions.
In a demonstration shared by Apple, the company showed how a user can ask Safari to create an extension by describing it. The prompt read: "Save and track cooking recipes from around the web. Click the toolbar button to see your saved recipes and add notes to each." Safari then used Apple Intelligence to generate a "Recipe Keeper" extension designed to do exactly that.
If the feature works as shown, it could help fill the void left by Chrome and Firefox extensions that are not available on Safari. It also appeals to users who want to build their own personal software with AI assistance.
Safari catches up on AI features
Over the past few years, browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Firefox have rapidly added new AI-powered capabilities, while Safari has largely lagged behind as Apple slowly integrated AI into its products. Until now, Safari's AI tools were limited to webpage summaries through a Highlights feature. The extension-making tool marks a significant step forward.
Alongside the extension feature, Apple revealed an AI-powered tool that automatically sorts Safari tabs into categories based on their content. For example, if a user has multiple tabs related to shopping for new running shoes, Safari might group them under a label like "sneakers."
Stay updated
Get the day's AI and automation news in your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Google introduced a similar tab grouping feature for Chrome in 2024. That tool allowed users to right-click a tab and select an "organize" option to automatically group similar tabs. However, Google appears to have discontinued that feature. Its dedicated webpage now redirects to a Google support page, and the option is no longer visible in the settings menu. Microsoft Edge can also group tabs based on relevance, and Firefox can generate tab group names using AI.
New password and notification tools
Apple is adding another feature that rivals already offer: the ability to change compromised passwords automatically. With the update, Apple's Passwords app uses Safari and Apple Intelligence to navigate to a website, sign in, and update the account's password. Google first announced a similar feature for Chrome last year, though it is only available on "supported websites," according to the company.
Safari is also getting a new "Notify Me" feature, which lets users track changes to a website. Several third-party tools already do this, but Apple differentiates its offering by allowing users to describe the specific type of change they want to monitor, such as a product restock or a price drop. This way, users are not notified about every minor update.
Apple takes a measured approach to AI
As competitors rush to add AI-powered browsing features, Apple is being more selective about which tools it integrates into Safari. The company appears to be taking a slower approach, ensuring that the features it embeds have been proven to work reliably, as many AI-powered features are still not ready for widespread use.
Related on Neura Market
- AI Tools Directory, Browse AI-powered software and extensions
- Browser Tools & Extensions Marketplace, Find extensions for productivity and automation
- Apple Intelligence Resources, Learn about Apple's AI offerings