Google moves Chrome to a two-week update cycle — TechCrunch
Google has officially moved from a four-week to a two-week release schedule for updates to the Chrome browser. The new cycle began with the release of Chrome 153 for desktop platforms, iOS and Android, TechCrunch reports.
Security in a faster cycle
The company linked the accelerated releases to changing approaches to cybersecurity in the era of artificial intelligence. According to Google, automated AI tools and community bug reports have increased the volume of fixes and updates, so a shorter cycle should simplify the management of security patches.
Google also notes that faster-moving threats, some of which may be related to AI, require reducing the interval between a fix appearing in public code and its delivery to users. The two-week schedule is intended to reduce the so-called N-day gap — the time between when a vulnerability is already known and when it is fixed.
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Faster feature rollout
The new schedule will also enable Chrome to add features more quickly. This is important amid the emergence of new competitors in the browser market: AI-assisted software development has enabled a number of new products to appear. Among alternative browsers seeking to compete with Chrome, TechCrunch names Brave, Dia, Opera Neon, Perplexity's Comet and the DuckDuckGo browser. OpenAI's ChatGPT Atlas browser, according to the publication, has ceased operating.
Google is experimenting with new AI features in Chrome and rapidly refining them, which also requires more frequent updates. In 2021, Chrome had already shortened its release cycle from six to four weeks. Mozilla, Microsoft and Brave, according to TechCrunch, have also already begun using a two-week release schedule.
