The Browser Company Considers Options for Arc Browser
The Browser Company has stopped adding new features to its Arc browser. The team is now fully focused on its new AI-powered browser, Dia.
CEO Josh Miller explained the shift. Arc, while innovative and popular, faced major hurdles. It was complex, sometimes unstable, and struggled to scale.
Security issues also influenced the decision. Last year, hackers exploited a flaw that let them insert code using only a user’s ID. In response, the company expanded its security team from one to five engineers.
Arc isn’t going away completely. It will still receive security patches and stay compatible with Chromium updates. However, it won’t be sold or open-sourced.
Why not? Arc shares core technology with Dia. Releasing its code could expose sensitive architecture. Still, the company says it may open-source Arc one day—if it no longer poses a risk.wired.com
The company’s new browser, Dia, is currently in alpha testing. Dia aims to be an AI-first browser, focusing on simplicity and user-friendly design. It is built on the same Arc Development Kit (ADK) that powered Arc, allowing for rapid prototyping and innovative features. However, this shared infrastructure complicates the possibility of open-sourcing Arc, as it would require revealing proprietary elements critical to Dia‘s development .PCWorldPCWorld
While Arc’s future remains uncertain, The Browser Company continues to maintain it with security updates and bug fixes. The company has expressed interest in potentially open-sourcing Arc in the future, but only when it no longer poses risks to the company or its stakeholders .The Verge
Strategic Pivot to AI
The potential move signals a significant shift in strategy. The Browser Company seems to be prioritizing AI development, leading them to re-evaluate the future of Arc Browser. The company may believe that selling or open-sourcing Arc would allow them to concentrate resources and engineering talent on their AI initiatives.
Possible Sale of Arc Browser
Potential Sale of Arc Browser
Selling Arc would involve transferring its ownership and development to another entity. This move could provide The Browser Company with capital to invest in Dia and allow the acquiring company to further develop Arc. Potential buyers might include larger tech firms aiming to expand their browser market share or smaller companies specializing in browser technology. However, a significant challenge is that Arc is built on the proprietary Arc Development Kit (ADK), which is also integral to Dia. This shared infrastructure complicates the possibility of a sale without exposing proprietary elements critical to both browsers .TechCrunch
Open-Sourcing Arc Browser
Open-sourcing Arc would allow developers worldwide to contribute to its development, potentially accelerating innovation. However, this option also faces hurdles due to the proprietary nature of the ADK. Open-sourcing Arc would effectively mean open-sourcing the ADK, which the company is reluctant to do at this stage. CEO Josh Miller has indicated that while open-sourcing Arc is not currently feasible, it might be considered in the future when it no longer poses risks to the company’s core assets .Mezha MediaThe Verge
Current Status of Arc Browser
Despite halting the development of new features, The Browser Company continues to maintain Arc by providing security updates and bug fixes. The browser remains compatible with Chromium updates, ensuring its usability for existing users. However, the company’s primary focus has shifted to Dia, which is currently in alpha testing and aims to offer a more streamlined, AI-integrated browsing experience .
Open-Sourcing Arc Browser
Alternatively, open-sourcing Arc Browser would mean releasing the source code to the public. This would allow anyone to contribute to the development of the browser, potentially leading to new features and improvements driven by the community. Open-sourcing could also ensure the browser’s continued existence even if The Browser Company shifts its focus entirely to AI. By open-sourcing Arc Browser, the company would rely on the power of community-driven development to sustain and enhance the browser’s capabilities.
