A pair of University of Washington computer science students, participating in Y Combinator’s summer 2025 batch, have publicly launched Meteor: a new AI-powered web browser that automates online tasks as a personal assistant. Meteor promises to reshape the way people interact with the web by leveraging generative AI to handle everything from scheduling to online shopping, and even homework completion.
AI as a Personal Web Assistant
Meteor’s core innovation lies in its use of agentic artificial intelligence to automate repetitive and time-consuming web tasks. Users can prompt the browser to perform actions such as adding calendar entries, purchasing items online, or applying for internships, directly through a conversational interface. A demonstration shows Meteor’s interface with a distinctive purple cursor automating these tasks in real time, streamlining everyday browsing far beyond what traditional browsers offer.
Origins and Founders’ Vision
Meteor was created by Pranav Madhukar and Farhan Khan, both on academic leave from the University of Washington. The project began after the co-founders met during university orientation and soon became one of Y Combinator’s anticipated new startups. Madhukar describes Meteor’s mission as “killing Chrome,” referencing their ambition to challenge Google Chrome’s dominance by providing a browser that feels less like a static tool and more like a proactive digital assistant.
Technical Foundation and Features
Built on Chromium—the open-source engine behind Google Chrome—Meteor began as a customized fork, rebuilt from the ground up to emphasize AI-first functionality. The browser supports task automation via simple text prompts, and the team is actively developing new features such as proactive suggestions, voice commands, and seamless integration with user workflows. The ethos is efficiency and user empowerment: reducing time spent on routine internet interactions and allowing the browser to “think ahead” for its user.
Student Backgrounds and Prior Projects
The founders have already made local waves with prior tech projects. Madhukar created viral campus games and web tools, including a service to help students identify upcoming instructors, which attracted thousands of users before administrative intervention. Khan’s background includes building an ultra-fast hardware development environment. Their combined expertise underpins Meteor’s focus on intelligent automation and significant performance improvements.
The Competitive Browser Landscape
Meteor enters the browser market amid a broader race to leverage AI in web navigation, with new entrants and established companies exploring agentic browsing and generative AI integration. Meteor distinguishes itself by its student-driven approach, ambitious automation, and its roots in user-centric pain points identified at the university level. The browser’s launch marks a notable milestone as startups seek to redefine productivity in a world shaped by artificial intelligence.
