HARPA AI vs. The Competition: Best Browser AI Extensions for Business Professionals in 2025

A new security study from UCL (University College London), UC Davis, and Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria reveals that many popular generative AI browser assistants are collecting sensitive user data, often in direct violation of their own privacy policies.

The paper, presented in August 2025 at the USENIX Security Symposium, tested popular AI browser extensions and found widespread privacy violations. This analysis details the study's findings, which tools pose the biggest risks, and what this means for enterprise security.

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Which AI browser extensions are actually safe for business use?

The short answer is: very few.

A groundbreaking study from UCL (University College London), UC Davis, and Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria (https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/uc-davis-study-reveals-alarming-browser-tracking-genai-assistants) published in August 2025 tested nine popular AI browser extensions and found widespread privacy violations. Researchers discovered that extensions like Monica and Sider were collecting “the highest level of profiling” data, including email content, patient histories, and partial financial records.

The study revealed shocking contradictions between privacy policies and actual behavior:

• Monica AI explicitly promises not to see browsing or chatting data, yet researchers observed it collecting and transmitting sensitive information from both public and private websites.

• Merlin AI was caught “exfiltrating a Social Security Number” that a researcher had entered into an IRS form.

• Sider was observed sending user queries and IP addresses to third-party analytics services, enabling cross-site tracking.

Meanwhile, extensions like HARPA AI performed “in-context profiling and personalization, but not out of context”, suggesting more limited data collection. The study found that TinaMind and Perplexity did not profile or personalize for any attributes.

For enterprise buyers, this creates a clear hierarchy:

• Potentially Acceptable: HARPA AI, Perplexity

• Red Flags: Monica, Sider, Merlin, MaxAI, TinaMind

HARPA AI claims local processing and GDPR compliance (https://harpa.ai/security-privacy). AI Blaze maintains SOC 2 Type II certification with enterprise-focused privacy policies (https://blaze.today/hipaa/).

What security risks do AI browser extensions pose to enterprises?

The risks go far beyond simple data collection.

AI browser extensions require extensive permissions to function. They need access to read and modify website content, access browsing history, and often request permissions to “read and send emails” and “access your contacts”.

The UC Davis researchers identified several critical risk categories:

• Session Replay Tracking: HARPA AI and MaxAI were observed sending information to Mixpanel, a service that “records everything the user does on the screen, like where the cursor is moving”. This creates a complete record of user behavior.

• Third-Party Data Sharing: Merlin and TinaMind transmitted user queries to Google Analytics servers. This enables cross-site tracking and ad targeting based on private conversations with AI assistants.

• Regulatory Violations: The researchers noted that these practices risk violating HIPAA, FERPA, and, likely, GDPR. For healthcare, financial, or educational organizations, this represents existential risk.

• Data Persistence: Unlike temporary browser sessions, AI extensions store conversation history and user profiles. As researcher Yash Vekaria noted: “Any information they provide to these GenAI browser assistants can and will be stored by these assistants for future conversations”.

The study’s findings (https://engineering.ucdavis.edu/news/ai-browser-extensions-privacy-risk) directly contradict the marketing claims of most tools, creating a dangerous gap between perceived and actual security.

How much do enterprise AI browser extensions actually cost?

Pricing transparency varies dramatically across tools, with some vendors deliberately obfuscating costs.

HARPA AI (https://harpa.ai/pricing):

AI Blaze (https://blaze.today/plans/).

Sider AI (https://sider.ai/pricing):

The transparency problem

Monica AI and Merlin AI have faced significant user backlash for “unlimited” plans with hidden restrictions. Reddit and Product Hunt reviews consistently cite misleading pricing and unresponsive customer support as major concerns.

For enterprise procurement, HARPA AI’s token system provides the most predictable cost structure, while AI Blaze offers straightforward per-seat pricing for teams.

Which AI browser extension offers the best ROI for business teams?

ROI calculation depends heavily on your specific use case and security requirements.

For automation and research workflows

HARPA AI delivers the highest ROI potential through its hybrid AI engine, which understands web page structure. Users report significant time savings on competitive analysis, SEO research, and data extraction tasks. The tool can automate multi-step workflows through integrations with Zapier, Make.com, and n8n.

However, user feedback indicates that its value proposition is weak for simple tasks such as page summarization. The ROI emerges when applied to complex, recurring workflows that would otherwise consume hours of analyst time.

For communication-heavy roles

AI Blaze excels in customer support, social media management, and sales outreach. Its team collaboration features allow organizations to create shared prompt libraries, ensuring consistent communication across departments.

Business users praise its utility in lead generation, though some note a confusing user interface and limitations in generative content capabilities.

Security violations eliminate ROI

Despite potentially useful features, the UCL/UC Davis findings make tools like Sider, Monica, and Merlin unsuitable for enterprise use. The risk of HIPAA violations, GDPR fines, and data breaches far outweighs any productivity benefits.

A single data breach can cost enterprises an average of $4.44 million globally—or a record-high $10.22 million in the United States—making security the primary ROI consideration.

What features should enterprises prioritize in AI browser extensions?

Move beyond feature checklists and focus on enterprise fundamentals.

Security certifications trump feature counts:

• SOC 2 Type II certification (AI Blaze provides this at https://blaze.today/privacypolicygdpr.html)

• Independent security audits from reputable firms

• Clear data residency and processing policies

• Transparent incident response procedures

Team collaboration capabilities

AI Blaze’s shared prompt libraries ensure consistent communication across team members. HARPA AI offers team spaces for collaborative command management. Both approaches reduce training overhead and maintain quality standards.

Integration ecosystem

HARPA AI’s connections to Zapier, Make.com, and n8n enable sophisticated automation workflows. AI Blaze integrates with platforms like Zendesk, Freshdesk, Salesforce, and HubSpot. Choose tools that complement your existing tech stack.

Pricing transparency

Avoid tools with opaque credit systems or “unlimited” plans with hidden restrictions. Token-based pricing (HARPA AI) or per-seat subscriptions (AI Blaze) provide predictable budgeting.

My Take

After analyzing the security research and testing multiple tools, the AI browser extension options is a minefield for enterprises. The UCL/UC Davis study should be a wake-up call for any business considering these tools.

The fundamental problem is that most vendors prioritize user acquisition over security. They make bold privacy claims in their marketing while implementing data collection practices that violate their own policies.

For businesses that need AI browser assistance, stick to the tools that have passed independent security audits. HARPA AI and AI Blaze represent the current best practices, but even these require careful evaluation of your specific security requirements.

Moreover, we continue to see other business moving into the same pitfulls as we covered in the article FOMO Fuels AI Failures 2025: Complete Business Guide.

Single Action Step

Audit your current browser extensions immediately. Remove any tools identified in the UCL/UC Davis study (Monica, Sider, Merlin) and establish a formal approval process for future AI tool adoption that requires security certification verification.

Take Control of Your AI Browser Security Today

Securing your business data while unlocking AI productivity isn’t just good practice — it’s survival in 2025’s threat landscape. The UCL/UC Davis study shows that the most popular extensions are data collection tools disguised as productivity aids. By following this security-first evaluation framework, you’ll protect your enterprise while capturing genuine efficiency gains.

Ready to implement secure AI workflows? As your AI CxO Partner, we’re here to guide you through the complexity.

About the Author

Dr. Hernani Costa founded First AI Movers Insights to help forward-thinking leaders translate emerging AI advancements into practical advantage. With 25+ years of experience in tech, academia, product, architecture, compliance, and executive strategy, his mission is to help you stay ahead in the agent-first era. For tailored counsel, email [email protected].

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