Gene is an AI assistant extension for web browsing scenarios, officially called an "all-in-one AI assistant" and powered by GPT-5. Its core usage method is to be invoked via the shortcut Ctrl + Q, allowing users to search, read, write, translate, and perform other operations without leaving the current tab.
Main capabilities include: chatting with GPT-5.5 and asking questions directly within the tab; screenshot understanding, where users can take a screenshot of any online text or image and have Gene analyze it; chatting with any page, supporting opening websites, Google Docs, YouTube videos, or PDFs and obtaining AI insights; generating images, turning ideas into images for design, illustration, and creative projects; quick insights, where clicking the question mark helps understand a paragraph; redesigning websites, where by describing what you want to change, Gene can update the page layout, text, colors, and more.
How to use: After installing the Chrome extension, press Ctrl + Q to start using it. The official page provides an "Add Gene to Chrome" entry point.
Pricing: Gene offers a free version, and there is also a paid version, Gene Power, priced at $3.00/month. The official statement says most AI assistants charge about $20 per month, and Gene Power can save $195 per year, about 81% cheaper. The official note states that prices are typical publicly available rates at the time of writing, and if discounted annual payment is used (where offered), prices may vary by region or time.
Use cases: Suitable for users who need to quickly obtain information while browsing the web, translate, get writing assistance, understand screenshots, interact with document or video content, generate images, and adjust webpage styles.
Limitations: The official source does not provide detailed information about the differences between the free and paid versions, specific usage limits, supported languages, platform compatibility (other than the Chrome extension), etc., and none is currently provided.