Introducing: Web Augmentation
Web Augmentation is a new paradigm that lets developers modify, automate, and share any web application—without access to its code. It creates a programmable overlay on top of the existing web. In this post, we explore how the web became closed, how Web Augmentation re-opens it, and why it’s vital for the age of agentic AI.
The Web Wasn’t Meant to Be This Way
The early web was open, remixable, and transparent. You could view source, copy styles, tweak scripts. It was a playground. Fast forward to today, and we live in a maze of locked-down SaaS apps, obfuscated interfaces, and rigid integrations. Developers are boxed in, users are disempowered, and progress is slowed by walled gardens.
But what if we could reclaim control?
The Problem: A Web You Can't Touch
Modern web apps are:
- Opaque: No way to tweak UI or logic unless you own the code
- Unfriendly to automation: DOMs shift, flows break, captchas stop scripts
- Anti-collaborative: No multiplayer, no shared sessions, no agent interfaces
- Fragile: Geo-blocks, CDN restrictions, app updates, and browser quirks constantly break workflows
Developers already *want* more control:
- 100k browser extensions exist, but they're siloed and hard to scale
- Teams build entire internal tools just to patch gaps in third-party apps
- AI agents (like GPT or Claude) can reason, but still can’t act reliably across the web
Meanwhile, the internet is fracturing:
- Chrome dominates the browser market (65%+), effectively controlling standards
- Centralized CDNs like Cloudflare can cut off entire regions
- Geopolitical forces now shape internet access—from Russia to Utah
We’re using the web, but we don’t control it.
Enter Web Augmentation
Web Augmentation is the ability to modify, automate, and share any web application—instantly and safely—without needing code access. It turns the browser into a programmable layer.
Unlike extensions, it scales.
Unlike middleware, it works without backend integration.
Unlike remote browsers, it's fast and native.
It gives developers the power to:
- Change UI elements in real time
- Automate flows like a human would (but faster)
- Record, audit, and observe sessions
- Share web sessions with humans or AI agents
The core idea: Treat the web as a canvas, not a fixed product.
How It Works (at a Glance)
Web Augmentation is powered by a tech stack called Virtual Web Sessions, as implemented by [Webfuse](#):
- Proxy-based virtualization layer
- Secure DOM rewriting and request handling
- Full JS sandboxing
- REST and JS APIs to control tabs, sessions, roles, events
- Extensions and Automations to customize behavior
You can:
// Open a virtual session with tabs
session.openTab("https://example.com");
session.openTab("https://github.com");
// Automate user behavior
await automation.moveMouse(200, 300);
await automation.click("#submit-button");Why Now: Agentic AI Needs Programmable Interfaces
LLMs like GPT-4, Claude, and Gemini are evolving into agents.
But the web is still built for humans. Agentic actions fail when:
- DOMs are dynamic
- Sites are behind logins
- Flows require visual context
- No API exists
Web Augmentation turns any app into a programmable surface. Agents can:
- Navigate visual flows
- Switch tabs, click buttons, type
- Share sessions with humans for hand-off
Toward a More Open Web
The internet shouldn’t be static.
It shouldn’t be locked down.
And it shouldn’t be dictated by the whims of browsers, CDNs, or geopolitics.
Web Augmentation gives developers and users a way to remix the web without waiting for permission.
Call to Action
Curious? Skeptical? Inspired?
🧠 Read the full Webfuse Whitepaper
🚀 Or signup here.
