Free AI SidebarFree AI Sidebar FAQ
What people ask about using ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini in Chrome’s side panel with Free AI Sidebar. Can’t find your question? Email contact@auth.specimen.website.
Is Free AI Sidebar really free?
Yes. The extension is free, with no account, credits or subscription of its own. It opens the official ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini websites, so each service’s own free plan (and its limits) applies. If you pay for one of them, your paid plan works in the sidebar too.
Do I need an API key?
No. You sign in to chatgpt.com, claude.ai and gemini.google.com with your normal accounts, exactly like in a tab.
Which AI assistants are included?
ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini, each in its own tab at the top of the panel. Each tab keeps its own conversation.
Does it read the pages I visit?
No. It doesn’t read, summarize or send the pages you browse. You choose what to share by copying text into the chat. Chrome shows a broad permission (“read and change data on all websites”) because the extension needs it to display the AI sites inside the panel and keep them responsive.
Where do my conversations go?
Straight to OpenAI, Anthropic or Google, as on their websites. Free AI Sidebar has no server and doesn’t collect your chats. Each provider’s own privacy settings apply.
How do I open and close the sidebar?
Click the extension icon, or press Ctrl+Shift+Z. You can change the shortcut at chrome://extensions/shortcuts.
The panel is blank or asks me to log in again and again. What do I do?
Sign in once in a normal tab, then reopen the panel. If it’s still blank, allow cookies for the AI sites and update Chrome. Full list in AI sidebar not working: 7 fixes.
Can it summarize the page I’m on automatically?
Not automatically. Copy the text you want summarized and paste it with a prompt. It takes a few seconds, and you control exactly what’s shared. See how to summarize a web page with AI.
Does it work in Edge, Brave or other browsers?
It’s made for Chrome 114+ and its side panel. Some Chromium browsers that support the side panel API may work, but we test on Chrome.
Is Free AI Sidebar made by OpenAI, Anthropic or Google?
No. It’s an independent extension and isn’t affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by OpenAI, Anthropic or Google.