Editor's Update: On Tuesday, December 2, Norton announced that the Norton Neo browser is now ready for direct download and testing, bypassing any waitlist requirement. This follows the initial report from May 22, 2025.
Traditionally, browser address bars have served dual purposes, allowing users to input web addresses or search queries. Norton's latest offering, the complimentary Neo browser, introduces an additional capability: interacting with artificial intelligence.
Known primarily for its antivirus products such as Norton 360 Deluxe, Norton is now venturing into the browser space with Norton Neo, designed with AI at its core. Users can register and join a waitlist for access. The company already provides the Norton Private Browser, which shares similarities but does not include AI features.
In Norton Neo, the conventional search and address bar is substituted with the 'magic box,' enabling users to conduct searches, create content, and execute tasks, as described by the company. Details on the specific AI technology employed or whether it operates via cloud services or on-device processing remain unspecified. Searches yield options to preview results, receiving AI-generated overviews, presented as a selection of links rather than a proprietary search engine alternative to Google's AI features. Additionally, the magic box supports AI-assisted composition, like composing emails, right within the interface.
Norton has also introduced an enhancement for managing tabs, though its practical implementation is uncertain. The company claims that Neo eliminates tab clutter by automatically arranging them for users.
Instead of eliminating tabs from the AI framework, Neo employs artificial intelligence to categorize them automatically, per the accompanying FAQ. This functionality mirrors features in Opera One's Tabs Islands and Microsoft Edge's Tab groups.
The browser includes a built-in ad blocker, a trend seen in various modern browsers. Norton commits to not selling user browsing information, though it may utilize limited, anonymized data internally. It blocks disruptive advertisements and tracking elements by default and confirms that user data will not contribute to AI model training.
While Norton does not confirm reliance on the Chromium open-source foundation used by Chrome and Edge, it supports compatibility with Chrome extensions.
Like many browsers, Neo is offered at no cost, with some ambiguity noted by Norton. The company states that it is free to download and use during alpha testing with an invitation code, and while premium options might be added in the future, the essential features will stay available to all.
Despite the dominance of Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge among users, alternative browsers like Brave, Opera, and Vivaldi offer enhanced functionalities beyond standard options. Norton Neo is poised to join this group shortly.