# How to Use the New ChatGPT Chrome Extension With Your Tabs

> The new ChatGPT Chrome extension reads your open tabs and can fill forms for you. Practical setup and prompts for freelancers and small shop owners.

- URL: https://hsalem.com/chatgpt-chrome-extension-tabs/
- Author: Hassan Salem (https://hsalem.com/about/)
- Published: 2026-10-17
- Topics: AI, Productivity, News

I have too many tabs open. Most days, half of them are there because I need to copy something from one page into another. This week OpenAI updated the ChatGPT Chrome extension so it can read those tabs and, if you allow it, do the boring copy work for you.

## What is new in the ChatGPT Chrome extension

On October 15, OpenAI announced a new version of its extension for Chrome. It has two ways of working.

**Chat:** ChatGPT reads several open tabs at once and answers questions about them. For example, compare three products by size, delivery time and return policy.

**Work:** ChatGPT controls your tabs to finish a task. It can fill in forms, send messages, download files and group messy tabs.

It runs in the background, so you can keep using other tabs. It also works in Edge, Brave, Opera and Vivaldi. OpenAI says the update is for all ChatGPT plans, but one report says Work needs at least Plus, so check what your account shows. The official pages do not list any region limits.

## Who it helps

**A freelancer with admin work.** Timesheets, expense portals, client CMS dashboards. This is the kind of data entry the [store listing](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/chatgpt/hehggadaopoacecdllhhajmbjkdcmajg) names directly. You lose an hour every month typing the same numbers into three websites.

**A small shop owner.** You compare supplier prices in five tabs before every order. Chat can put them in one table in seconds, and you still decide.

## How people use it so far

The update is only a few days old, so real stories are still few. OpenAI's own demos show product comparison across open tabs and filling a form while stopping before the submit button. Early reactions are mixed: the store listing has millions of users but a low average rating. I would treat it as a helper you watch, not a worker you trust blindly.

## How to set it up and use it

The [official setup guide](https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/chrome-extension) goes through the ChatGPT desktop app:

1. Update the ChatGPT desktop app.
2. Open **Settings > Computer Use** and pick your browser.
3. Click **Install**, add the extension and review its permissions.
4. Start a Work chat and mention the browser, like **@Chrome**, or mention one open tab as context.

By default it asks before it uses each new website. You can allow once, allow for that site, or decline. I would not pick "allow for all sites".

Here is a prompt a freelancer can copy:

> Look at the invoice PDF in my open tab. Open the expense form in the other tab and fill in the date, amount, vendor and category from the invoice. Stop before submitting and show me what you entered.

And one for the shop owner:

> Compare the three supplier tabs I have open. Make a table with unit price, minimum order, delivery time and shipping cost. Mark the cheapest total for 200 units.

## The honest caveat

It sees what is in your tabs. OpenAI's own guide says to treat page content as untrusted and to avoid sending secrets through browser tasks. So close your banking tab and anything private first, and always read the form before you press submit. That last click should stay yours.

If you want more practical AI tips like this one, every week in your inbox, [subscribe to my newsletter](https://hsalem.com/newsletter/). It is free and short.

## Sources

1. [ChatGPT browser extension guide (OpenAI)](https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/chrome-extension)
2. [ChatGPT extension in the Chrome Web Store (OpenAI)](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/chatgpt/hehggadaopoacecdllhhajmbjkdcmajg)
3. [ChatGPT release notes (OpenAI)](https://help.openai.com/en/articles/6825453-chatgpt-release-notes)
4. [The Decoder: ChatGPT becomes a full Chrome browser assistant](https://the-decoder.com/chatgpt-becomes-a-full-chrome-browser-assistant-that-reads-and-acts-on-your-open-tabs/)
5. [PiunikaWeb: ChatGPT Chrome extension tab control](https://piunikaweb.com/2026/10/16/chatgpt-chrome-extension-tab-control-automation/)
6. [TechMyMoney: ChatGPT Chrome extension update](https://techmymoney.com/2026/10/16/chatgpt-chrome-extension-tabs-work-update/)
7. [PPC Land: ChatGPT gains control of Chrome tabs](https://ppc.land/chatgpt-gains-control-of-chrome-tabs-to-fill-forms-and-send-messages/)