The Browser Company Considers Selling or Open-Sourcing Arc Browser Amidst AI Pivot

The Browser Company is reportedly considering strategic options for its Arc Browser, including a potential sale or open-source release, as it redirects resources towards developing its new AI-powered browser, Dia. This shift in focus signals a significant change in the company’s product strategy.

Back in December 2024, when The Browser Company first teased Dia, it acknowledged that Arc’s complexity might have limited its appeal to a broader audience. While Arc has continued to receive bug fixes and security updates, active development and feature additions have been put on hold.

In a recent blog post, CEO Josh Miller addressed Arc users, explaining that the browser suffered from a “novelty tax.” He elaborated, “For most people, Arc was simply too different, with too many new things to learn, for too little reward […] On top of that, Arc lacked cohesion in both its core features and core values. It was experimental, that was part of its charm, but also its complexity.”

While a complete shutdown of Arc is not currently planned, The Browser Company is exploring options such as selling the browser or making it open-source. However, Miller pointed out a significant challenge: Arc is built on the Arc Development Kit (ADK), an internal SDK that also forms the foundation of Dia. Open-sourcing Arc would inadvertently expose valuable intellectual property related to their new AI browser.

“While we’d love to open-source Arc someday, we can’t do that meaningfully without also open-sourcing ADK. And ADK is still core to our company’s value. That doesn’t mean it’ll never happen,” Miller stated.

Notably, a segment of the Arc Browser community has long advocated for open-sourcing the project. Discussions on platforms like Reddit highlight user interest in this possibility.

The Browser Company’s Dia browser is currently in alpha testing. While a firm release date hasn’t been announced, the company intends to offer Arc members the opportunity to test Dia.