Browser Use Secures $17M to Revolutionize AI Navigation on Websites | TechCrunch

We may not have a clear definition of what an AI “agent” truly is, but many startups are eager to create tools that automate online tasks. One company making waves is Browser Use. This startup is gaining a lot of attention for its technology that enhances website readability for AI agents.

Recently, Browser Use secured $17 million in seed funding, led by Felicis’ Astasia Myers and supported by tech leaders like Paul Graham and Nexus Venture Partners. This funding marks a significant milestone for the company, highlighting its promise in the bustling AI space.

Founded by Magnus Müller and Gregor Zunic while they were pursuing their master’s degrees in data science at ETH Zurich, Browser Use combines web scraping and data science to transform websites into a format that AI agents can easily access. Müller, who has prior experience with web-scraping tools, and Zunic developed a demo in just five weeks, which quickly took off and later became open-source.

The core function of Browser Use is to convert the complex elements of a website into simpler, text-based formats. This allows AI agents to navigate and understand options without the pitfalls of visual interpretation that often leads to failures. “A lot of agents use vision-based systems to navigate websites,” Müller explained, noting that these can easily break due to frequent site changes. “We focus on making websites comprehensible for agents, enabling them to perform tasks consistently and at a lower cost.”

The demand for better AI interaction with websites is steadily growing. Müller believes Browser Use could be a vital component in this evolving landscape. In fact, over 20 companies in the latest Y Combinator batch are already leveraging their technology.

Myers elaborated, “We see web AI agents as the next frontier in automating human tasks.” Companies are reaching out to Browser Use to improve how AI navigates their sites, especially platforms like LinkedIn, known for frequent updates.

This trend isn’t just speculation. A recent report by McKinsey found that AI could potentially automate up to 70% of tasks in various industries by the next decade, emphasizing the importance of tools that enable seamless AI functionality on the internet.

In conclusion, Browser Use is not just a startup; it’s part of a broader shift towards smarter web automation. As AI technology evolves, tools like these could become indispensable, bridging the gap between static websites and the dynamic needs of digital agents. It’s an exciting time for both developers and users, as this technology reshapes how we interact online.

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