Arc, the alternative web browser from The Browser Company launches a search version of it on Android in open beta. That is because its launch is a step toward being a cross-platform app.

Arc, which already had apps in the Apple ecosystem until last year, then launched a Windows client in April ahead of launching on Android. The company said it tested the Arc Search for Android with 18,000 users for nearly four weeks in a closed beta program before today's public debut.

The company had launched Arc Search for iPhone earlier this year with a huge focus on search. The app's "Browse for Me" feature, available as well in the Android version, looks at multiple web pages and builds a new page for you for the search query.

The rationale behind this, the company has explained, is that, for instance, you want to find a recipe; you have to dig through tons of information that wouldn't interest you at that point. With "Browse for Me, an AI-powered algorithm filters the noise and presents relevant information.

However, people have been criticizing Arc Search's approach by pointing out that AI-search would damage small websites whose content these tools are summarizing. In the recent episode of Decoder podcast, The Browser Company CEO Josh Miller said that the company is improving citations on these results to make people click on outbound links more.

"We're also having a lot of conversations with media companies right now. And at the end of the day, I think media companies and publishers need to get paid. And the truth is, as you know, the scale of that will not mean it works for everybody, but we're doing our best behind the scenes and out front to be better here," Miller said.

The ad-blocker against ads, popups and banners, as well as the tab auto-archiving capability, will be available in the Android app as well. The company said it will declare the Android app generally available sometime this fall.

The Android version has not yet been launched with all the features of Arc Search on iOS, such as pinch to summarize and call to ask. Users have downloaded Arc Search on iOS 1.6 million times, according to analytics firm Sensor Tower.

In February, this year, the company managed to raise $50 million at a valuation of $550 million. However, no revenues are yet being accrued by the company. Speaking on Decode, Miller said that when the company launches its 2.0 products, then that's when it will start charging businesses and individuals