In a shift away from its antivirus roots, Norton is stepping into the browser space with the launch of Neo, a browser centered around artificial intelligence and a smarter, cleaner user experience. Now available through a waitlist for Alpha testers, Neo is described as “AI-first,” replacing the traditional address bar with a new tool Norton calls the “Magic Box,” where users can type in web addresses, search queries, and AI prompts in one seamless input field.
Neo is more than just a browser with AI pasted on top. The Magic Box is the focal point of interaction—allowing users to search the web, generate AI-written content, and take actions like drafting emails directly from the bar. When performing searches, the browser serves up AI-generated previews of search results, giving you a snapshot without needing to visit each link individually. Unlike Google’s more aggressive AI integration into its search engine, Norton appears to favor a hybrid model that still shows link lists while adding AI-powered summaries for quicker decision-making.
Norton is also trying to solve one of the browser world’s oldest headaches: tab clutter. Neo introduces what it calls “tables browsing,” a feature that promises an end to “tab chaos” by using AI to organize open pages. The company’s FAQ clarifies that this isn’t the elimination of tabs, but rather an automatic grouping system. Other browsers like Opera One and Edge already offer similar tab organization features, but Norton is hoping its AI-driven version will feel more intuitive and hands-free.
Privacy, always a focal point in both the antivirus and browser worlds, gets special attention in Neo. Norton promises that it will not sell your browsing data or use it to train AI models. The browser will block intrusive ads and trackers by default, and while it does admit to collecting some anonymized data, it maintains that this is kept to a minimum. An integrated ad blocker comes standard, further aligning Neo with privacy-focused browsers like Brave and Vivaldi.
Another detail of note: although Norton doesn’t outright say Neo is built on Chromium, it does confirm compatibility with Chrome extensions. That strongly suggests it shares its underpinnings with Chrome and Edge, which should ease the transition for users already familiar with the Chrome ecosystem.
Neo is not Norton’s first browser—the company also offers the Norton Private Browser—but that product lacks the AI integration that sets Neo apart. As of now, Neo is free to download if you have an invitation code, though Norton hints at future premium features that may be paywalled. The company assures users that the basic browser experience will remain free.
In an era where browsers are increasingly incorporating AI, Norton’s Neo looks to carve out a niche by placing AI front and center rather than as a side feature. While questions remain about how the AI functions under the hood and how well the new features will actually perform, Neo enters a space ripe for reinvention—and if it delivers on its promises, it could offer a compelling alternative for users looking for something smarter and more streamlined.