Explore the solar system
Turn science tabs into an interactive planet explorer with clear explanations and comparisons.
What is GenTabs?
GenTabs is a Google Labs concept in the Disco Browser preview that turns open tabs into goal-driven, interactive outcomes. Gentabs AI is an independent hub with explainers, use cases, and copy-paste prompt packs—plus a Disco-inspired LLM prototype (in progress).
What GenTabs is: definition and mental model
Table of Contents
TL;DR (the 10-second definition)
GenTabs takes your open tabs + your goal and generates a structured, usable outcome—often as an interactive "mini-app" experience—rather than a generic summary.
If tab groups help you organize links and summaries help you read faster, GenTabs-style workflows help you finish the task: a plan, a comparison, a brief, a checklist, or a decision memo.
What GenTabs is (in plain terms)
Most of us browse the web like this:
- open 15 tabs
- read a bit of each
- lose the thread
- start over tomorrow
GenTabs flips that pattern. Instead of leaving your work as a pile of tabs, it aims to transform that pile into a goal-driven artifact you can actually use—like:
- a trip dashboard (itinerary, map points, next actions)
- a weekly meal plan (recipes, swaps, grocery list)
- a research brief (claims, evidence, uncertainties)
- a comparison matrix + recommendation
The critical idea is outcome > summary.
The best mental model for GenTabs
1) Tabs = your "source set"
Treat your open tabs as a small dataset. A great source set usually includes: primary sources (official docs, original posts, specs), independent perspectives (reviews, critiques, comparisons), and practical pages (maps, product pages, pricing pages).
2) Goal = the output you want
A strong goal is specific enough that a structured artifact is obvious. Bad goal: "summarize these tabs." Good goals: "Create a 3-day itinerary with a realistic schedule and backup options." or "Compare three tools and recommend one for a small team, including tradeoffs."
3) Structure = how you force usefulness
GenTabs-style outputs get dramatically better when you specify format (claim-evidence, feature matrix), sections (exec summary, risks, recommendation), and checklists (next actions, owners, timeline). Structure is the simplest quality lever you have.
Official Sources & References
- Google Disco Home: labs.google/disco
- Official Waitlist: Join here
- Google Blog: Generative AI in Search
Example from Google Disco GenTabs
Video source: YouTube (Google Labs).
What you can do with GenTabs
Transform your open tabs into goal-driven, actionable outcomes:
Plan a trip
Flights + hotels + maps → a trip dashboard with itinerary, places, and next actions.
Create a meal plan
Recipe tabs → a weekly meal plan with swaps and a consolidated grocery list.
Plan your garden
Plant guides → a simple layout, care schedule, and shopping checklist.
Research → outline
Sources → themed clusters, claim-evidence table, and a clean outline in minutes.
Product comparison
Review tabs → feature matrix, shortlist, and recommendation with tradeoffs.
Market scan
Competitor tabs → pricing, positioning, gaps, and opportunity map.
Decision memo
Messy tabs → decision-ready memo: options, risks, next steps, and open questions.
Best practices (the playbook): how to get better GenTabs outputs
GenTabs-style workflows shine when you treat them as repeatable recipes. These practices reliably improve quality and reduce hallucinations.
FAQ
Have more questions? Check out our full FAQ page.
1
Is Gentabs AI the official GenTabs site?
No. Gentabs AI is an independent community resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Google.
2
What is GenTabs in Google Disco?
GenTabs is a Google Labs concept in the Disco Browser preview that turns open tabs into goal-driven, structured outcomes—often presented as an interactive mini-app experience.
3
Is GenTabs available to everyone?
Availability may be limited and can change over time since it's part of a preview/Google Labs experience.
4
Do I need a Google account to use GenTabs in Disco?
Typically yes for Google Labs experiences. Gentabs AI itself does not require an account to browse guides and prompt packs.
5
Can I use these prompt packs outside Disco?
Yes. You can paste them into ChatGPT/Claude/Gemini or any LLM tool and provide sources manually (links or excerpts).
6
How do I reduce hallucinations in tab-based workflows?
Require citations for key claims, force a structured output (tables/sections), and explicitly call out uncertainties and source disagreements.
Start with the playbook
Browse prompt packs, explore official + expanded use cases, or follow the Disco-inspired build (in progress).