Arc browser fans not pleased with company's decision to launch yet another new browser

The Browser Company’s announcement of their new AI-focused browser, Dia, has sparked a wave of disappointment among Arc Browser users. The announcement video paints a futuristic vision of a browser deeply integrated with artificial intelligence, but for many loyal Arc fans, it feels like a betrayal. The company, once celebrated for its innovative approach to web browsing, is now under fire for what users see as abandoning Arc.

I’ve been using Arc on my Mac for a while, and I love its features and simplicity. Stuff like Boosts and the sidebar customization have genuinely made my workflow smoother. So, hearing that the focus is shifting away from Arc to something completely different is frustrating. Many Windows users are particularly upset since the Arc experience on that platform has felt like an afterthought compared to its Mac counterpart. Comments on Reddit echo this sentiment, with one user saying, “Are they just going to abandon the Windows users and give them bug fixes and Chromium updates?”

Dia’s vision doesn’t seem inherently bad. To me, it seems ambitious — an AI-powered browser that understands your context, automates tasks, and transforms your interaction with the web. The demos in the announcement video, like an “insertion cursor” that fetches information or even writes emails for you, are undeniably cool.

But the excitement for Dia doesn’t outweigh the sting of Arc being sidelined. One particularly biting post on Reddit summed it up: “Arc is going downhill… chasing an even more niche AI application.”

The core frustration seems to come from unmet expectations. When Arc launched, it felt like the future of browsing: a product that evolved with its users. Now, some feel it’s been left to stagnate. Users are asking why features like Boosts and Easels — big hits on macOS — haven’t been brought to Windows. Others are lamenting that Arc never reached its full potential before resources were shifted to Dia. “I give it about 6 months or so. Their resources will shift towards Dia as that’s what’s going to bring them the investor dollars,” predicted a user in a heated discussion.

This shift also raises trust issues. The Browser Company’s pivot to Dia makes people question their commitment to their products. Will Dia eventually meet the same fate as Arc if it doesn’t rake in enough revenue? Only time will tell.

The backlash isn’t just noise. It is disappointment from a community that genuinely believed in Arc’s promise. I get it. Arc feels personal — it’s more than just a tool; it’s an experience. The thought of it being left behind is disheartening.

Still, I can’t entirely fault The Browser Company for their decision. They’re a small team with limited resources. If Arc wasn’t financially sustainable, maybe moving on was inevitable. But that doesn’t make it easier to accept. It feels like we’re being asked to trust the company again, but this time, the enthusiasm is harder to muster.

For now, Arc isn’t disappearing. The Browser Company says they’ll continue supporting it, albeit with fewer updates. But the writing’s on the wall. As Dia moves into the spotlight, Arc will likely fade into the background. And for fans like me, that’s a tough pill to swallow.