The browser company said Tuesday that it is considering selling or open sourceing ARC browsers as it aims to divert resources to the development of a new AI-powered browser called DIA.
When the company announced DIA in December 2024, ARC acknowledged that it was a complex browser for many users and wanted to build a product that appeals to the public. Since then, browser companies have issued bug fixes and security updates for ARC, but have stopped app development and added features.
In a new blog post, the company’s CEO Josh Miller said the ARC browser has encountered a “fresh tax” issue.
“For most people, the arcs are too different, there are too many new things to learn, and there are too few rewards […] Plus, Ark lacked cohesion in both its core capabilities and core values. It was experimental and it was part of its appeal, but it was also its complexity,” Miller wrote.
The browser company said it has no plans to shut down ARC completely, but it has considered selling or open source. But Miller says the challenge with open source browsers is that it is built on top of the Arc Development Kit, an internal SDK that is also a core component of the new browser DIA, and does not want to provide that IP.
“We want an open source arc one day, but we can’t do that meaningfully without opening sources either. ADK is still at the core of our value. That doesn’t mean that it never happens,” Miller said.
In particular, many ARC browser users are asking their companies to turn it into an open source project.
The browser company DIA browser is still in alpha testing. The company says it won’t give a wider release date, but it will be available to test the browser with ARC members.
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