Atlassian acquires Arc browser maker for $610M to build AI work browser

Atlassian has acquired The Browser Company, maker of the Arc and Dia web browsers, for $610 million to build an AI-powered browser specifically designed for knowledge workers. The acquisition positions Atlassian, the software company behind workplace tools like Trello and Jira, to compete in the rapidly evolving browser market where companies are racing to integrate generative AI into web browsing experiences.

What you should know: Atlassian plans to upgrade Dia into a specialized browser that uses agentic AI to help knowledge workers navigate and retrieve information more efficiently.

• The new browser will transform traditional tabs into “icons enriched with context,” such as showing a Google Calendar tab counting down minutes to a meeting.
• It will feature “AI skills and personal work memory” that can proactively take action on behalf of users based on their browsing history and work patterns.
• Atlassian will market the browser to businesses by emphasizing security, compliance, and administrative control features.

The big picture: The acquisition reflects a broader industry shift toward AI-powered browsing experiences that go beyond traditional search engines.

• Google has integrated large language models into its search engine, displaying AI-generated summaries above traditional web links.
• OpenAI launched ChatGPT search in October, allowing users to retrieve up-to-date web information through the chatbot.
• Apple is reportedly planning AI features for Safari and is rumored to be in talks to acquire Perplexity, an AI-powered search startup that recently launched its own browser called Comet.

What they’re saying: “It’s time for a browser that’s actually built for work — a browser that helps you do, not just browse,” Atlassian CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes wrote in a company blog post.

• “Knowledge workers need a browser designed for their specific needs, not one that’s been built for everyone on the planet. That’s what we will build with The Browser Company.”

Why this matters: Traditional browsers have historically left users to navigate the web independently, but the new generation of AI-powered browsers aims to provide automated assistance that understands context and predicts user needs.

• This represents a fundamental shift in how people engage with the internet, moving from algorithm-based search results to AI-guided browsing experiences.
• The focus on knowledge workers specifically suggests a growing recognition that different user groups need specialized tools rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.