Parchi is an AI-powered browser copilot designed for chat-driven web automation. It enables users to navigate, interact with, and extract data from web pages using natural language commands, functioning as a sidebar extension. This tool is beneficial for power users, researchers, and developers seeking to streamline complex or repetitive browser-based tasks.

How It Works

Parchi operates as a browser extension (Chrome MV3 and Firefox) that integrates with various AI providers, including OpenAI, Anthropic, and local models via Ollama or LM Studio, through configurable API endpoints or a Parchi account proxy. A background service worker manages the AI agent loop, tool execution, and streaming responses, leveraging browser APIs for automation tasks. The architecture comprises a Side Panel UI, a Background Service Worker, and direct interaction with Chrome APIs and AI Providers.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Primary install / run command: Clone the repository (git clone), navigate into the directory, run npm install, and then npm run build. For Chrome, load the generated dist/ folder as an unpacked extension via chrome://extensions with Developer Mode enabled. For Firefox, use npm run build:firefox and load the extension temporarily via about:debugging#/runtime/this-firefox.
• Non-default prerequisites and dependencies: Node.js and npm are required for building. An OpenAI-compatible AI provider endpoint and API key are necessary for functionality, or users can opt for Parchi's proxy mode.
• Links: Parchi GitHub

Highlighted Details

• Features over 25 browser automation tools categorized into Navigate, Interact, Read, Video, Organize, Plan, and Delegate.
• Supports vision capabilities for analyzing screenshots and video frames with compatible models.
• Includes a Relay Daemon & CLI to expose Parchi as a local automation endpoint for scripting.
• Allows users to leverage existing AI subscriptions (e.g., ChatGPT Plus, Claude Pro) via the CLIProxyAPI.
• Offers context compaction, workflow templates, multiple user profiles, and session management.

Maintenance & Community

No specific details regarding notable contributors, sponsorships, or community channels (like Discord/Slack) were found in the provided README.

Licensing & Compatibility

• License type: MIT License.
• Compatibility notes: Compatible with Chrome MV3 and Firefox version 109+.

Limitations & Caveats

Firefox does not support native tab grouping. The Relay keepalive feature requires an offscreen document. The project is at version 0.4.0, indicating it may still be in active development and subject to changes.