Introducing AI Assistance in Chrome DevTools

I’m excited to announce our latest work in Chrome: the AI Assistance panel in Chrome DevTools. This new feature represents a significant step forward in our mission to empower web developers with intelligent, context-aware tools.

Following the success of our first AI integration, Console Insights powered by Gemini, we’ve expanded our AI capabilities to tackle one of the most challenging aspects of web development: debugging and styling. The AI Assistance panel is designed to be your intelligent coding companion, right within the familiar Chrome DevTools environment. You can learn more about the panel in my screencast below.

Our team has been working to create a tool that understands the nuances of web development. We’ve leveraged the power of Google’s Gemini AI model to create an assistant that doesn’t just provide generic advice, but truly understands the context of your work. It can analyze your DOM structure, interpret your styles, and offer insights tailored to your specific situation.

One of the key challenges we aimed to address with this feature is the time-consuming nature of CSS debugging. We know from our research and feedback that developers, especially those who don’t specialize in front-end work, can spend a significant portion of their time grappling with styling issues. The AI Assistance panel is our answer to this problem, offering not just explanations, but actionable solutions.

We’ve designed the interaction to feel natural and collaborative. You can start a conversation with example prompts or ask your own questions, and the AI will guide you through the process of understanding and resolving issues. It’s like having a senior developer looking over your shoulder, ready to offer advice and suggestions.

A feature I’m particularly excited about is the AI’s ability to prototype fixes. It can suggest changes to your styles and DOM structure, which are then reflected in the Changes panel. This allows you to experiment with solutions in real-time, without the fear of breaking your codebase. As with Console Insights, we’re rolling out the AI Assistance panel as an experimental feature. It’s currently available in Chrome Canary builds, and we’re eager to hear your feedback. Your input will be crucial in shaping the future of this tool and helping us refine its capabilities.

The introduction of AI Assistance in Chrome DevTools is a glimpse into the future of web development tools. We’re exploring how AI can enhance developer productivity, foster learning, and make complex tasks more approachable. As we continue to experiment, we’re committed to maintaining the balance between cutting-edge AI capabilities and the reliable, performant tools you depend on. The AI Assistance panel is a big step in this direction, and we’re excited to see how it will evolve based on your use and feedback.

We invite all web developers to try out the AI Assistance panel in Chrome Canary and share your experiences with us. Your insights will be invaluable as we work to make Chrome DevTools an even more powerful ally in your development journey. We can’t wait to see what you’ll build with these new capabilities at your fingertips.

A big kudos to Mathias Bynens, Michael Hablich and the team for their work on this feature.