Google is experimenting with a new desktop feature that could change how you interact with the web. Instead of launching a browser, opening a new tab, and navigating to a website, a new prototype allows you to summon Google’s entire ecosystem with a quick tap on your keyboard. Dubbed “Everywhere Omnibox” under the internal codename “Project Loom,” this feature unchains the traditional address bar from Google Chrome‘s window and drops it directly onto your desktop as a standalone, floating interface.
AI that bypasses the browser window
Tests by Windows Report showed that the feature works entirely separate from the standard Chrome toolbar. When triggered, a compact, clean search box simply materializes right in the middle of your screen, behaving similarly to Apple’s Spotlight Search or Microsoft’s PowerToys Run utility.
The interface functions as a detached, centralized hub. While it still populates familiar search autocomplete suggestions and pulls traditional web results, Google is positioning its conversational AI tools right at the heart of the experience. The typical search prompt is replaced with an “Ask anything” field, turning the floating bar into a direct pipeline to Google’s AI capabilities without requiring you to navigate to a separate website or sidebar.
To make it a true productivity tool, developers built a specialized “+” menu directly into the window. This button enables users to upload images, analyze documents, and even generate entirely new AI artwork on the fly. Essentially, you can complete a multi-step research task, review a file, and browse the web from one single desktop popup.
A race for desktop real estate
This design philosophy isn’t entirely unique. Microsoft Edge rolled out a comparable floating desktop search bar a few years ago. However, Microsoft historically treated its AI functions as a separate destination. On the other hand, Google’s prototype stands out by weaving traditional text queries and advanced machine learning models into the exact same input field.
Currently, the feature remains an early-stage prototype hidden behind developer flags inside Chrome Canary, Google’s experimental testing environment. It’s noteworthy that engineering teams frequently scrap or heavily modify experimental builds before they ever reach a stable public release. So, there is no solid guarantee that this floating window will become a permanent fixture on your computer.
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