Top 10 AI Chrome Extensions for Productivity in 2026 (Boost Writing, Research, and Coding)

1. ChatGPT Sidebar (AI Writing + Research Assistant)

ChatGPT Sidebar has evolved massively by 2026. It’s no longer just an “answer box”—it’s a full AI productivity workspace inside Chrome.

• Summarize any webpage or PDF in one click.
• Rewrite or polish emails and documents.
• Generate SEO-friendly blog posts without leaving the tab.
• Debug code snippets and get step-by-step explanations.
• Translate content in real-time with context awareness.

Why it’s popular in 2026:

Works offline with cached AI models, integrates with Google Docs, Notion, and Gmail, and is faster than opening a separate AI site.

2. GrammarlyGO AI (Next-Gen Grammar + Tone Control)

Grammarly has dominated the grammar-checking space for a decade, but in 2026, it’s transformed into GrammarlyGO AI, a Chrome extension that does more than fixing typos.

New features include:

• Advanced tone-shifting AI (turn casual text into professional emails).
• Smart auto-completion for documents.
• Context-aware corrections that understand your industry jargon.
• SEO keyword suggestions for bloggers.
• Multilingual grammar fixing with natural flow.

Why it’s trending in 2026:

With competitors like Wordtune AI and QuillBot Pro, Grammarly had to evolve. Now it acts like a co-writer AI assistant, not just a spell checker.

3. QuillBot Pro 2026 (AI Paraphrasing + Summarizer)

QuillBot’s AI paraphrasing engine is legendary, and in 2026 it’s 10x smarter. It helps users avoid plagiarism, improve clarity, and shorten or expand content.

Key features:

• One-click summarizer for academic papers.
• Paraphrase with style options (academic, casual, SEO-friendly).
• Plagiarism checker integration.
• Word simplification AI for non-native English speakers.

Use case example:

A student pastes a 10-page PDF into QuillBot’s extension and instantly gets a 2-paragraph summary with citation links.

4. Perplexity AI Extension

Perplexity has become the Google killer of 2026. Its Chrome extension is a real-time research assistant that:

• Fetches answers from the latest web sources.
• Provides citations for every fact.
• Summarizes YouTube videos and podcasts.
• Converts long web articles into bullet-point takeaways.

Unlike traditional search engines, Perplexity AI ensures accuracy and trusted citations, making it a favorite among journalists, researchers, and students.

5. Scribe AI (Workflow + SOP Generator)

Scribe AI automatically records your screen and generates step-by-step guides. Perfect for training, SOPs, and tutorials.

• Auto-captures workflows → turns them into documentation.
• Generates PDF/Word guides instantly.
• AI optimizes steps for clarity.
• Integrates with Confluence, Notion, and Google Workspace.

Why it’s viral in 2026:

Every company now needs fast documentation. Instead of writing long guides, Scribe AI documents processes in seconds.

6. Merlin AI (All-in-One AI Assistant)

Merlin AI has grown into one of the most-used AI assistants on Chrome. It helps with multiple daily tasks like writing, research, and coding.

• Generating emails and replies.
• Summarizing LinkedIn posts.
• Creating meeting notes.
• Coding help for developers.
• Acts like a Chrome Copilot.

7. Compose AI (Smart Writing Assistant)

Compose AI speeds up writing by auto-completing sentences, generating outlines, and suggesting better words.

• Seamless Gmail integration.
• AI-driven LinkedIn post generator.
• Saves up to 40% of typing time.
• Suggests better word choices.

8. GitHub Copilot for Chrome (Coding Assistant)

By 2026, GitHub Copilot isn’t just in VS Code. It’s available directly in Chrome as an extension for developers.

• Debugs code from StackOverflow snippets.
• Suggests fixes in browser-based IDEs.
• Writes JavaScript inside Chrome DevTools.
• Generates explanations for complex code.

9. Otter.ai Voice Notes Extension (Meetings + Note-taking)

Otter.ai helps users record, transcribe, and summarize meetings inside Google Meet or Zoom.

• Real-time AI transcription.
• Summarizes meetings with action items.
• Exports notes directly to Notion/Slack.
• Multi-speaker voice recognition.

10. Notion AI Web Clipper 2026 (Knowledge Management)

Notion AI Web Clipper lets you save and auto-summarize any webpage into your Notion workspace.

• Summarizes long blogs instantly.
• AI tags and organizes notes.
• Converts saved content into to-do lists or study notes.
• Works seamlessly with Notion databases.