The Browser Company officially halts Arc development to focus on its AI-based browser Dia

The Browser Company has officially ended active development of its flagship Arc Browser, shifting focus to its new browser announced back in December 2024, Dia, which features strong artificial intelligence integration. While Arc will continue to receive security and maintenance updates, users should not expect any new features moving forward. This pivot comes as CEO Josh Miller explained that Arc's steep learning curve and limited value contributed to low user retention. He also cited a lack of cohesion in Arc's features as a factor in the decision.

Dia is currently in alpha testing and has not been released to the general public, though the company has made it clear that its goal is to position it as an artificial intelligence-driven environment built atop a web browser. It will include AI-assisted writing, fact retrieval, and contextual automation features—such as inserting links from online retailers based on user descriptions. Some of Dia’s capabilities build on ideas from Arc’s mobile version, but with a stronger focus on AI. According to Miller, the aim is to offer a clearer and more unified value proposition that addresses the weaknesses found in Arc.

Meanwhile, the company considered selling or open-sourcing Arc, but decided against it for now, citing technical constraints related to its internal SDK, which is shared with Dia. However, Miller left open the possibility of open-sourcing in the future, stating “that doesn’t mean it’ll never happen.” In the meantime, you can take a look at Zen Browser, one of the most popular alternatives that several former Arc users have started switching to.