Alchemist

Most people, especially with ADHD, find interesting pages online but never return. Our app gamifies focus: set goals, complete quests, earn badges, and turn distraction into progress through play.

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Alchemist - Chrome Extension

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Application Overview

Alchemist is a gamified Chrome extension that transforms going back to saved for later pages(bookmarks) into an engaging gamified experience. By combining Chrome's built-in AI APIs with game mechanics, Alchemist helps users combat digital distraction and turn scattered online discoveries into structured and rewarding learning progress.

The Problem We're Solving

Why do I bookmark everything and then never actually look at my bookmarks again?

I am sure most of us can relate to that. Anyone who bookmarks pages frequently tends to forget their way back. Moreover, it’s difficult to retrieve from a big bundle when you need a specific page. This involves a lot of time. This behavior is analogous to hoarding as I perceive it. Hoarders accumulate stuff rationalizing that they might need it one day. This behaviour is more prevalent in people with ADHD.

Core reasons (each drives bookmarking, not revisiting)

  • Intention creep (future-self illusion): Bookmarking creates the belief “I’ll deal with it later,” transferring responsibility to an imagined future self who is more organized or motivated. That future-self bias reduces immediate effort.
  • Low friction for capture, high friction for action: Saving a link takes seconds; curating, reading, or integrating the content takes focused time and decision-making. The disparity makes saving easy and acting hard.
  • Decision fatigue & choice overload: Large bookmark collections increase the perceived cost of choosing what to read next. Faced with many saved items, avoidance or procrastination follows.
  • Opportunity bias / novelty trap: You bookmark to keep options open, especially for potentially interesting material. The perceived value of “maybe useful later” is inflated relative to actual future use.
  • Memory outsourcing and false security: Storing a link gives a mnemonic illusion—“I’ll remember to check it”—reducing the urgency to schedule or process it now.
  • Poor retrieval practice and indexing: Most bookmark lists lack meaningful tags, context, or prioritization. Without searchable metadata or summaries, retrieval becomes effortful and cognitively costly.
  • Emotional regulation and curiosity reward: Bookmarking offers a small dopamine payoff (anticipation of learning) without the work of consumption, so the act itself becomes a habit independent of follow-through.

Alchemist addresses this by:

  • Making bookmark completion rewarding through gamification (immediate feedback for ADHD brains)
  • Using AI to intelligently organize and surface relevant content
  • Providing AI-powered assistance (summarization, translation, simplification)
  • Building sustainable habits through streaks, quests, and achievements
  • Breaking overwhelming tasks into manageable, rewarding chunks
  • Transforming passive bookmarking into active, structured progress toward any goal

The Statistics Are Alarming:

  • ADHD & Internet Use: People with ADHD are 9.3 times more likely to develop problematic internet use, with 56% showing internet addiction versus only 12% in control groups (PMC research, 2024)
  • Broken Bookmarks: 13% of links die every year, meaning your saved content is literally disappearing
  • Tab Overload: Most users have hundreds of bookmarks they've never revisited—turned into "digital hoarding"
  • Attention Fragmentation: Average attention span dropped from 12 seconds (2000) to 8.25 seconds (2024)
  • Distraction Impact: Office workers check email 30 times per hour, and it takes 25 minutes to refocus after a distraction

In today's digital landscape, endless distractions—TikToks, YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels—constantly fragment our attention. People save interesting articles, tutorials, research materials, and resources for projects but never return to them. Bookmarks accumulate but goals remain incomplete. This isn't just about learning—it's about completing any internet-based goal, from research projects to side hustles to skill development.

Core Features & Functionality

1. Gamified Goal Achievement ("Potions")

Users create structured goals called "Potions" that contain related bookmarks ("Ingredients"). These can be for learning, research, project planning, skill development—any internet-based goal. When users complete bookmarks by reading and engaging with them, they:

  • Earn Essence (10 per bookmark) — in-game currency providing immediate dopamine hits (crucial for ADHD)
  • Gain Experience Points (10 XP per bookmark, 50 XP per completed potion)
  • Build Daily Streaks for consistent engagement (combats executive dysfunction)
  • Level up based on total XP earned (visible progress reduces overwhelm)
  • Unlock Badges for achievements (first potion, 7-day streak, etc.)
  • Complete Daily/Weekly/Monthly Quests with specific challenges (structure for scattered attention)

2. AI-Powered Semantic Bookmark Search

Using EmbeddingGemma-300M (a 308-million parameter embedding model) running entirely in-browser:

  • Indexes all Chrome bookmarks with semantic embeddings
  • Enables intelligent search that understands meaning, not just keywords
  • Powers the "Gather Ingredients Magically" feature that suggests relevant bookmarks for new potions
  • Uses Matryoshka Representation Learning (MRL) for efficient 256-dimensional embeddings
  • Hybrid ranking: 90% semantic similarity + 10% recency weighting
  • Background processing via offscreen document (non-blocking)

3. Geminorix Multi-modal AI Chat Assistant

An AI study companion providing four "spell" actions:

  • Decipher: Explains complex terms and concepts
  • Condense: Summarizes long content
  • Transmute: Translates text between languages
  • Simplify: Rewrites content to be easier to understand
  • Images: Analyzes images to provide answers

All interactions track progress toward daily quests ("Consult Geminorix" quest).

4. Full-Page Content Transformation

Unique capability to transform entire web pages:

  • Translate Page: Converts all text on the active tab to another language
  • Simplify Page: Rewrites page content to be more accessible
  • Restore Original: Returns page to its original state
  • Preserves page structure, styles, and functionality
  • Uses content script injection for DOM manipulation

5. Smart Bookmark Summarization

  • Individual Bookmark Summaries: Click any bookmark to get instant AI-generated summaries (reduces reading overload)
  • Comprehensive Spellwriting: Complete a full potion to generate a cohesive summary combining all bookmarks
  • Helps users review and retain information efficiently
  • Particularly valuable for ADHD users who struggle with long-form content

6. Progress Tracking & Analytics

  • Real-time statistics (total essence, potions completed, bookmarks completed, Quests, Badges)
  • Visual progress indicators for active potions
  • Quest completion tracking with reset logic (daily/weekly/monthly)
  • Badge unlock system with 20+ unique achievements
  • Streak tracking with "longest streak" records

Chrome Built-in AI APIs Used

1. Prompt API (Primary)

  • Usage: Powers the Geminorix chat assistant's "Decipher" spell
  • Implementation: src/utils/ai-helper.ts
  • Feature: Explains complex concepts, answers questions about learning materials
  • Session Management: Creates persistent sessions with system prompts for consistent personality
  • API Detection: Supports both new (window.ai.languageModel) and legacy (window.LanguageModel) APIs

2. Summarizer API

  • Usage:
    • Individual bookmark summarization in Goal Detail View
    • "Condense" spell in Geminorix chat
  • Implementation: src/utils/summarizer.ts
  • Feature: Generates concise summaries of web pages and content
  • Options: Configurable length (short/medium/long), format (plain-text/markdown)

3. Writer API

  • Usage: Generates comprehensive "Spellwriting" for completed potions
  • Implementation: src/utils/writer.ts
  • Feature: Creates cohesive summaries combining all bookmarks in a completed learning goal
  • Context: Accepts potion title, description, and all bookmark summaries as input

4. Rewriter API

  • Usage:
    • "Simplify" spell in Geminorix chat
    • Full-page simplification feature
  • Implementation: src/utils/writer.ts (rewriterHelper class)
  • Feature: Rewrites complex content to be more accessible and easier to understand
  • Tone: Maintains "as-is" tone while improving clarity

5. Translator API

  • Usage:
    • "Transmute" spell in Geminorix chat for text translation
    • Full-page translation feature for entire web pages
  • Implementation: src/utils/translator.ts
  • Feature: Translates content between 100+ languages
  • Language Detection: Automatic source language detection
  • Batch Processing: Handles large content volumes efficiently

API Integration Architecture

All AI utilities follow a consistent pattern:

class AIUtility {
  async checkAvailability(): Promise<string>  // Check API availability
  async initialize(options): Promise<void>    // Create session
  async mainMethod(input, options): Promise<string>  // Process request
  async destroy(): Promise<void>              // Clean up session
}

This ensures:

  • Proper resource management (session cleanup on unmount)
  • Consistent error handling across all APIs
  • Graceful degradation if APIs are unavailable
  • Memory efficiency

Technical Implementation Highlights

EmbeddingGemma Integration

  • Model: onnx-community/embeddinggemma-300m-ONNX (q8 quantization)
  • Size: ~200MB (downloaded once, cached by browser)
  • Processing: Offscreen document prevents service worker blocking
  • Batch Size: 10 bookmarks at a time for optimal performance
  • Task-Specific Prompts:
    • Queries: "task: search result | query: {text}"
    • Documents: "title: none | text: {text}"
  • Performance:
    • Model load: ~500 ms (after initial download)
    • Per bookmark: ~50-100ms
    • Search: <50ms for 1000 bookmarks

Content Script Architecture

  • Injection: All URLs (<all_urls>) at document_idle
  • Capabilities:
    • Extracts page content for bookmark indexing
    • Manipulates DOM for page transformations
    • Preserves page structure and functionality
    • Stores original state for restoration
  • Communication: Message passing with service worker and popup

Service Worker (background.js)

  • Manages Chrome bookmarks API access
  • Handles offscreen document lifecycle for EmbeddingGemma
  • Fetches page content for indexing
  • Coordinates batch processing requests
  • Maintains indexing status across sessions

Data Architecture

  • Chrome Storage (chrome.storage.local): User stats, goals, quests, badges, settings
  • IndexedDB (Dexie.js):
    • Bookmark embeddings table (id, url, title, content, embedding, timestamp)
    • Processing status table (singleton for indexing state)
  • localStorage: Dark mode preference

Privacy & Security

  • 100% Local Processing: All AI runs in-browser via Gemini Nano and EmbeddingGemma
  • No External Servers: Zero data transmission to third parties
  • No Analytics: No tracking, no telemetry
  • Open Source: Full transparency, auditable code
  • Minimal Permissions: Only essential Chrome APIs requested

Technology Stack

  • Framework: React 18.3 + TypeScript 5.0
  • Build Tool: Vite 4.4+ with SWC
  • UI: Radix UI primitives + Tailwind CSS 4.0
  • Database: Dexie.js 3.2.4 (IndexedDB wrapper)
  • AI Models:
    • Chrome's Gemini Nano (Prompt, Summarizer, Writer, Rewriter, Translator APIs)
    • EmbeddingGemma-300M (ONNX q8) via @huggingface/transformers 3.0.1
  • Chrome APIs: Manifest v3, Storage, Bookmarks, Offscreen, Scripting, Tabs, Content Scripts
  • Icons: Lucide React 0.487
  • Notifications: Sonner 2.0

Installation & Testing Instructions

Prerequisites

  1. Chrome Version: 127+ (Dev/Canary) or 138+ (Stable recommended)
  2. Enable Chrome AI Flags at chrome://flags/:
    • #prompt-api-for-gemini-nano → "Enabled"
    • #optimization-guide-on-device-model → "Enabled BypassPrefRequirement"
    • #language-detection-api → "Enabled"
    • #translation-api → "Enabled without language pack limit"
  3. Download Gemini Nano Model at chrome://components/:
    • Find "Optimization Guide On Device Model"
    • Click "Check for Update" (download)
    • Wait for status: "Up to date"

Building the Extension

# Clone repository
git clone [REPOSITORY_URL]
cd Alchemist

# Install dependencies
cd src
npm install

# Build extension
npm run export

This generates the extension in the dist/ folder.

Loading in Chrome

  1. Navigate to chrome://extensions/
  2. Enable "Developer mode" (top right toggle)
  3. Click "Load unpacked"
  4. Select the Alchemist/dist/ folder
  5. Pin the extension to toolbar for easy access

Testing the Application

Test 1: Creating a Potion with AI Suggestions

  1. Click the Alchemist extension icon
  2. Click "Start New Potion"
  3. Enter title: "Learn JavaScript Async/Await"
  4. Click "Gather Ingredients Magically"
  5. Expected: AI suggests relevant bookmarks (or uses fallback if not indexed)
  6. Select 3-5 bookmarks and create potion

Test 2: Bookmark Indexing (EmbeddingGemma)

  1. On homepage, click "Index Bookmarks for AI Search"
  2. Expected: Progress bar shows 0% → 100%
  3. Expected: Status shows "✓ X bookmarks indexed"
  4. Expected: Button changes to sync icon
  5. First run note: Model downloads ~200MB (one-time, cached)

Test 3: Summarization (Summarizer API)

  1. Open any active potion with bookmarks
  2. Click any incomplete bookmark
  3. Click "Summarize" button
  4. Expected: Concise summary appears below bookmark
  5. Check off bookmark
  6. Expected: +10 Essence, +10 XP, progress updates

Test 4: Spellwriting (Writer API)

  1. Complete all bookmarks in a potion
  2. Click "Generate Spellwriting" button
  3. Expected: Comprehensive summary combining all bookmarks
  4. Expected: +50 XP bonus, potential badge unlock

Test 5: Geminorix Multimodal Chat (Multiple APIs)

  1. Navigate to Chat tab (💬 icon)
  2. Type question: "Explain closure in JavaScript"
  3. Click "Decipher" spell (Prompt API)
  4. Expected: Clear explanation appears
  5. Type text: "Hello, how are you?"
  6. Click "Transmute" spell, select Spanish (Translator API)
  7. Expected: "Hola, ¿cómo estás?"

Test 6: Full-Page Translation (Translator API + Content Script)

  1. In Chat tab, visit any web page
  2. Click "Translate Page" button
  3. Select target language (e.g., French)
  4. Expected: Entire page content translates while preserving structure
  5. Click "Restore Original"
  6. Expected: Page returns to original language

Test 7: Full-Page Simplification (Rewriter API + Content Script)

  1. Navigate to a complex article (e.g., technical documentation)
  2. Open Alchemist, go to Chat tab
  3. Click "Simplify Page" button
  4. Expected: Page content becomes more accessible and easier to read
  5. Click "Restore Original" to revert

Test 8: Quests & Badges

  1. Complete 1 bookmark (counts toward "Daily Study" quest)
  2. Navigate to Quests tab
  3. Expected: Progress updated (1/5 for "Daily Study")
  4. Complete a full potion
  5. Navigate to Badges tab
  6. Expected: "Novice Alchemist" badge unlocked

Test 9: Streak Tracking

  1. Open extension today
  2. Note current streak in stats bar
  3. Close browser, wait 24 hours
  4. Open extension next day
  5. Expected: Streak increments by 1
  6. Wait >48 hours, open extension
  7. Expected: Streak resets to 1

Test 10: Dark Mode

  1. Click moon/sun icon in top right (stats bar)
  2. Expected: UI toggles between light/dark theme
  3. Close and reopen extension
  4. Expected: Theme preference persists

Demo Application Access

  • GitHub Repository: [REPOSITORY_URL]
  • Demo Video: [YOUTUBE/VIMEO_URL]
  • Installation Guide: See README.md and SETUP.md in repository
  • Full Documentation: See CLAUDE.md for technical details

The application is fully functional and requires no authentication or backend services. All features work offline after initial model downloads.

Unique Differentiators

1. Multiple APIs Working Together

Alchemist doesn't just use one API—it orchestrates five Chrome AI APIs in harmony:

  • Prompt API for conversational assistance
  • Summarizer API for content condensation
  • Writer API for comprehensive summaries
  • Rewriter API for content simplification
  • Translator API for multilingual support

2. State-of-the-Art Embeddings (EmbeddingGemma-300M)

First Chrome extension to integrate Google's EmbeddingGemma model:

  • 308 million parameters
  • Runs entirely in-browser via ONNX + WebAssembly
  • Matryoshka Representation Learning for efficiency
  • Task-specific prompting for optimal results

3. Full-Page Content Transformation

Unique capability to transform entire web pages while preserving:

  • Page structure and layout
  • Interactive elements (buttons, forms)
  • Styles and visual design
  • Ability to restore original content

4. Gamification for Behavioral Change

Not just a tool—a behavior change platform:

  • Streaks encourage daily engagement
  • Quests provide structured challenges
  • Badges recognize achievements
  • XP and levels create sense of progression
  • Makes learning addictive in a positive way

5. ADHD-Friendly Design (Research-Backed)

Specifically addresses challenges documented in ADHD research (PMC, 2024):

  • Immediate Rewards: Instant XP/Essence triggers dopamine (addresses reward deficiency)
  • Structured Goals: Reduces decision paralysis with clear next steps
  • Visual Progress: Combats "completion anxiety" with visible achievement
  • Task Chunking: Breaks overwhelming content into digestible pieces
  • Streak Building: Creates positive habits through consistency rewards
  • Minimizes Distractions: Fixed 420×600px popup, no endless scrolling
  • Prevents Tab Hoarding: Converts saved tabs into actionable goals

6. Privacy-First Architecture

  • Zero telemetry or tracking
  • No user accounts required
  • All data stored locally
  • No external API calls (except initial model download)
  • Open source for full transparency

Impact & Use Cases

For Students (75% report social media distracts during study time)

  • Organize research materials for papers and projects
  • Build study habits with streaks and quests
  • Use AI summarization to review lecture notes
  • Translate academic papers in foreign languages
  • Simplify complex textbooks for better comprehension
  • Combat the 28-42 minute attention span challenge (average 14-year-old)

For Professionals (25 minutes lost per distraction to refocus)

  • Manage industry articles and documentation
  • Create learning paths for new technologies
  • Use AI to quickly digest technical content
  • Track professional development progress
  • Build consistent learning habits despite constant interruptions
  • Convert research time into visible, rewarding progress

For People with ADHD (56% struggle with internet addiction)

  • Combat bookmark hoarding with structured, achievable goals
  • Immediate rewards prevent task abandonment (addresses dopamine deficiency)
  • Visual progress reduces anxiety about incomplete work
  • Streaks build sustainable routines (combats inconsistency)
  • Breaks overwhelming content into achievable chunks
  • Research shows: ADHD users need immediate feedback—Alchemist provides it
  • Addresses the documented 9.3x higher risk of problematic internet use

For Side Project Builders & Creators

  • Organize research for projects, startups, creative work
  • Track progress on goals that span weeks or months
  • Collect and review design inspiration, tutorials, documentation
  • Build momentum with visible achievement markers
  • Complete what you start (finally)

For Language Learners

  • Translate bookmarked content for practice
  • Simplify complex foreign language text
  • Build vocabulary through repeated exposure
  • Track progress with XP and levels

For Researchers & Writers

  • Manage sources and references systematically
  • Generate summaries of background reading
  • Organize materials by topic/project
  • Combat "research rabbit holes" with structured goals
  • Create comprehensive summaries of research areas

Future Enhancements

While the current version is feature-complete for the contest, potential future additions include:

  1. Spaced Repetition: Resurface completed potions for review based on forgetting curve
  2. Collaborative Potions: Share learning goals with friends or study groups
  3. Essence Shop: Spend currency on themes, character customization, power-ups
  4. Export Features: Generate study guides, flashcards, or notes from completed potions
  5. Chrome Sync: Sync progress across devices via Chrome Storage Sync API
  6. Advanced Analytics: Learning velocity, optimal study times, topic clustering
  7. Browser History Integration: Auto-suggest bookmarks based on browsing patterns
  8. Voice Interaction: Voice-based chat with Geminorix using Speech APIs

Conclusion

Alchemist demonstrates the transformative potential of Chrome's built-in AI APIs. By combining five different AI capabilities with research-backed gamification mechanics, it solves a documented crisis: digital distraction, fractured attention, and bookmark neglect.

The Research is Clear:

  • 8.25-second attention spans are destroying productivity
  • 56% of ADHD users struggle with internet overload
  • 13% of saved links break every year
  • 75% of students admit social media distracts during work time
  • 25 minutes lost per distraction to refocus

The application showcases:

  • Technical Excellence: State-of-the-art embeddings (EmbeddingGemma-300M), efficient architecture, robust error handling
  • User Experience: Intuitive interface, magical theme, immediate rewards, satisfying interactions
  • Real-World Impact: Helps users build focus and complete any internet-based goal—not just learning
  • Privacy & Trust: 100% local processing, open source, no tracking, no data collection
  • Innovation: First extension to combine EmbeddingGemma with multiple Chrome AI APIs
  • Research-Backed Design: Specifically addresses ADHD challenges documented in peer-reviewed research

Alchemist doesn't just organize bookmarks—it transforms how people accomplish their goals online, turning scattered curiosity and distracted browsing into structured, rewarding progress. It's where focus becomes fun.

For the 56% of ADHD users struggling with internet use, for the students losing 75% of study time to distraction, for anyone drowning in unread bookmarks—Alchemist turns the problem into play.

Contact & Resources

Built with ❤️ for the Chrome Built-in AI Challenge

Transforming curiosity into progress, one potion at a time.

Built With

  • ai
  • built-in
  • chrome
  • chromestorage
  • dexie
  • embeddinggemma
  • indexeddb
  • javascript
  • multi-modal
  • promptapi
  • radix
  • react
  • rewriter
  • sonner
  • summarizer
  • tailwind
  • transformers
  • translation
  • typescript
  • vectordb
  • vite
  • writer
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