Arc Browser’s AI-powered ‘pinch-to-summarize’ feature: Clever but Inconsistent
Arc Browser, a company focused on providing a less cluttered web experience, recently introduced a new feature in its mobile app called Arc Search. This feature utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to summarize web pages with a unique “pinch-to-summarize” gesture. While the feature has garnered attention for its innovative approach to interacting with AI, there are concerns about its potential impact on traffic to news publishers.
The concept of AI-powered summaries is not entirely new, with previous attempts made by companies like Instagram’s Artifact and Google’s Search Generative Experience. However, Arc’s pinch-to-summarize feature stands out due to its user-friendly design and impressive transition animation.
To use the feature, users simply need to pinch the web page they want to summarize, similar to the gesture used for zooming out. As the page folds in an origami style, the browser generates a neatly formatted summary with key points. The transition effect is smooth and enhanced by subtle haptic cues, making the user experience satisfying.
Despite the impressive gesture and design, the AI-powered summaries themselves have proven to be inconsistent in their accuracy. In testing, it was found that important details were often missed. For example, when updating an older story about the false rumor of Google discontinuing Gmail, Arc’s summary failed to include the crucial information debunking the hoax. Additionally, the function did not work when attempting to summarize a recipe page in Hindi, and users have reported that the summary feature does not perform well with languages other than English.
While the AI-powered summaries generally provide useful information, it is necessary to double-check their accuracy as critical details may be omitted. This issue is not exclusive to Arc’s feature, as other AI-powered summary systems such as Perplexity and ChatGPT have also demonstrated shortcomings in accurately summarizing articles.
There are valid concerns about the potential impact of Arc’s approach on journalism and the web as a whole. Journalists and industry experts have raised issues regarding the reliability of AI-powered summaries and their potential to undermine the motivation for contributing to web content. It is important for news consumers to be cautious when relying solely on these summaries for accurate information.
Another drawback of Arc’s summary feature is the inability to share the summaries along with the source’s link. This limitation hinders the ability for readers to access the full article, potentially impacting publishers’ traffic. It remains uncertain whether Arc plans to introduce a feature that allows for embedding the source’s link along with the summaries.
In addition to the summary feature, Arc has made updates to its “Browse for me” AI-powered search. The search results now generate shareable pages, with clickable links within those pages for further reading. Furthermore, the company has introduced incognito mode in its recent update.
There is an ongoing discussion about the value of data for AI and its impact on content creators. While minor mistakes or omissions may be overlooked by users, it is essential for AI companies to prioritize accuracy and reliability, considering the price tag and valuations associated with their services.
In conclusion, Arc Browser’s AI-powered ‘pinch-to-summarize’ feature offers a unique and visually appealing way to interact with AI. However, its inconsistency in accurately summarizing web pages raises concerns about its reliability. News publishers and consumers alike should exercise caution when relying solely on these summaries for accurate information. As AI continues to evolve, it is crucial for companies like Arc to address these limitations and improve the quality and accuracy of their AI-powered features.