Hark previews its browser use agent for completing tasks
Hark, an AI startup that raised $700 million in Series A funding in May 2026, has unveiled Hark Handoff, an agent designed to navigate websites and complete tasks on users' behalf, even where no official API exists. The launch places Hark in a crowded field of computer- and browser-use agents being developed by major players such as Google, OpenAI and Anthropic, alongside VC-backed rivals including Browser Use, Polar, Strawberry and Aside, intensifying competition to automate everyday online tasks.
Hark says Handoff can operate on sites such as Target, Walmart, OpenTable and LinkedIn by reading page structure and visual cues to decide where to click or type, enabling tasks like ordering food, booking travel, filing returns or reserving restaurant tables. A demo from chief executive Brett Adcock showed the agent assembling a flower bouquet from a loosely specified request, though only part of the process was shown. The company says the current version uses a post-trained model, with plans to pre-train later in the year, and claims Handoff predicts actions directly rather than tokens, making it faster and cheaper to run than models such as GPT 5.5 and Opus 4.8. A waitlist has opened, with a full release planned by the end of summer.
In short
- Hark, backed by $700m in funding, launches browser-use agent Handoff
- Agent completes web tasks like bookings and shopping without APIs
- Waitlist open now; full release expected by end of summer
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Browser agents like Handoff represent genuine progress in automating routine, time-consuming online tasks from booking travel to filing forms, freeing users to focus on more meaningful work. The technology improves accessibility for people with disabilities and limited digital literacy, whilst mirroring how previous technological advances have liberated humans from repetitive labour.
The case against
Browser agents that autonomously navigate websites and interact on users' behalf raise legitimate concerns about security vulnerabilities including account compromise and unauthorised transactions, as well as privacy risks from exposure of browsing history and personal data. Beyond individual risks, the technology could displace workers in service roles, and many users may not fully understand the implications of granting AI systems autonomous control over their sensitive online interactions.
Explained simply
AI agents are software designed to carry out tasks with limited step-by-step direction from a person. Browser-use agents work through websites by interpreting what is on screen and choosing where to click or type, which could let them handle tasks such as shopping or booking a table.
Hark is an AI startup led by chief executive Brett Adcock. Its Handoff agent is intended to work across websites, including those without an official connection that lets other software access their services. This approach puts Hark among a growing group of companies developing agents to automate online tasks.
The field includes large AI companies such as Google, OpenAI and Anthropic, as well as smaller firms including Browser Use, Polar, Strawberry and Aside. The competition is over how reliably and affordably these agents can act on websites, where page layouts and interactions can vary.