Backed by Atlassian, Dia fuses AI-native architecture with Arc’s most beloved innovations to reshape the future of browsing
From Arc to Dia: A Smarter Evolution
The AI-powered browser Dia is blending innovation and lessons from its predecessor, Arc, by reintroducing some of Arc’s most praised features while discarding its more experimental excesses. The result? A streamlined, AI-native browser designed for how users navigate the web today.
- Dia now includes Arc’s “sidebar mode,” custom shortcuts, and other tools fans loved.
- These features are being integrated into a lighter, faster, AI-first architecture, according to Josh Miller, founder of The Browser Company.
Backed by a $610 million acquisition by Atlassian, Dia is gaining momentum — and a second chance to perfect the modern browser Arc aspired to be.
Arc’s Legacy: A Bold Idea, Not a Failure
Originally launched in mid-2023, Arc reimagined the browser as a digital workspace with:
- Separate spaces for work and personal browsing
- A command bar similar to Apple’s Spotlight
- A comprehensive sidebar with bookmarks, tab management, media controls, and more
But Arc’s ambition was its downfall. Despite its charm, Miller admitted Arc was too complex and disjointed to gain broad adoption. Still, the experiment offered valuable insights into user behavior and preferences.
“Arc lacked cohesion… it was experimental, and that was part of its charm — but also its complexity,” Miller wrote earlier this year.
Dia Learns From Arc’s Wins and Mistakes
Dia is now bringing back Arc’s most-loved features — “Arc’s greatest hits” — in a simplified, AI-enhanced environment. Already added:
- Sidebar mode, recently released to early testers
- Automatic picture-in-picture for Google Meet when switching tabs
- Custom keyboard shortcuts
Under active development:
- Pinned tabs
- Swipeable profiles
- Arc’s “Spaces” feature, offering isolated browsing environments with separate themes, tabs, and histories
These additions aim to make multitasking, customization, and memory management more seamless for users.
Built AI-First, Not AI-Added
Unlike Arc, which layered AI tools onto a traditional browser, Dia is AI-native from the ground up.
- It features agent-based architecture, contextual memory, and lightweight performance.
- Dia’s design is optimized for speed, security, and integrated AI workflows — especially important as AI-driven tasks become the norm.
This makes Dia not only a browser, but a productivity companion designed to anticipate user needs and streamline their web experience.
Powered by Atlassian, Still Independent
Following its acquisition by Atlassian, Dia remains operationally independent. However, it is beginning to benefit from its parent company’s ecosystem.
- Integrations are underway with Atlassian tools like Jira, and soon, third-party apps like Linear.
- This deepens Dia’s utility for technical teams, product managers, and remote collaborators.
These enterprise-friendly capabilities may give Dia an edge in the growing market for AI browsers tailored to work environments.
Looking Ahead: More Features, Less Bloat
Miller and his team are actively engaging users for feedback and prioritizing updates for 2026, including:
- Improved mobile app experiences
- Arc Search-inspired tools
- Additional quality-of-life improvements that balance performance with power
Importantly, Dia is committing to less bloat than typical browsers — focusing on clean design, speed, and utility over unnecessary features.
Dia, the AI-native browser from The Browser Company, is bringing back Arc’s best features like sidebar mode and Spaces while avoiding its complexity. Now owned by Atlassian, Dia combines AI agents, memory, and app integrations to deliver a streamlined, powerful browsing experience for the modern web user.
