Aside AI Browser Ships Major Update Days After Viral Debut
Aside, an artificial intelligence-focused web browser, has released a substantial update less than two weeks after its public debut attracted widespread attention online.
The update introduces pinned tabs — one of the most requested features from early users — along with keyboard shortcuts for switching between them.
Expanded AI Model Support
Aside now supports additional AI providers, including xAI’s SuperGrok, Kimi, and Z.ai, as well as custom providers.
Users can also connect local large language models (LLMs) — AI systems that run directly on a user’s own hardware rather than in the cloud — through tools like Ollama and LM Studio.
Performance Fixes Take Center Stage
Performance was among the loudest complaints following the browser’s launch, and the update addresses it directly.
Aside said it reduced GPU rendering memory usage by roughly three times compared to the initial release, fixed signup errors that blocked some new users, and resolved known stability problems on Intel-based Macs.
Early users and reviewers reported that Aside caused noticeable system slowdowns, with some MacBook Air M2 machines heating up under the browser’s load and becoming sluggish during normal use.
The Aside team acknowledged the lag in its update notes after multiple users flagged the issue in the browser’s official feedback thread.
Smaller Fixes Round Out the Release
The update also delivers a range of interface and compatibility improvements.
The floating vertical tab sidebar now appears when a user hovers near the left edge of the screen. Firefox import support arrived for the first time, Chromium browser bookmark imports became more reliable, and users can now choose to display the full URL in the address bar.
Aside also said it improved the reliability of account connections for ChatGPT, Claude, and GitHub Copilot.
Benchmark Claims Draw Attention
Alongside the update, Aside co-founder Jun published a technical post explaining how the team built its browser agent — the AI component that can navigate the web and complete tasks autonomously.
The post claims Aside leads several browser agent benchmarks, including Online-Mind2Web, Odyssey, and BU-Bench-V1, though those claims have not been independently verified.
Jun said the performance stems from building a lightweight browser automation stack around Playwright, an open-source tool for controlling web browsers programmatically, rather than relying on conventional browser control methods.
Aside launched publicly in late June 2025 and drew rapid attention on social platforms, where users debated its AI-integrated design and comparisons to conventional browsers.
The browser competes in a growing field of AI-native browsers, including Arc from The Browser Company and Dia, which Arc’s team announced earlier this year as a more AI-forward successor.
