Browse AI robots are designed to keep extracting data through small website changes. This includes:
Fallback selectors - Each step records several ways to find an element
Automatic retries - Built-in retry logic for failed extractions
Change notifications - Alerts when robots need attention
Real browser - Runs in a full Chrome browser through rotating proxies
Browse AI works with many dynamic sites like e-commerce platforms, news websites, and business directories, though success varies by website complexity and security measures.
How does Browse AI handle website changes?
Browse AI's system includes several features to help with changing websites:
Fallback selectors - Each step tries several ways to find an element, so small layout changes often don't break the robot
Automatic retries - Built-in retry mechanisms for temporary failures
Proxy management - Built-in proxy rotation
Alert detection - Notifications when issues occur
When websites change:
You may receive failure notifications if robots stop working properly
The system provides success rates for each robot in your usage reports
Browse AI offers guidance for improving robot performance
Some changes may require retraining robots or creating new ones
Important note: While small layout changes often don't break a robot, significant structural changes may still require manual intervention or robot adjustments.
What should I expect when my target website changes?
When Browse AI detects potential issues:
Failure notifications - You'll receive alerts about robot failures
Performance reports - Success rates are tracked in your usage reports
Guidance provided - Browse AI suggests improvements for robot performance
Support available - Contact support for help with persistent issues
Types of notifications you may receive:
Individual failure notifications
Daily failure digests (the default), or weekly or monthly digests
Batched notifications if you have high failure volumes (12+ per month)
Success rate summaries in usage reports
Response options:
Review failure notifications for specific issues
Use provided links to improve robot performance
Retrain robots if necessary
Contact support for complex issues
How can I improve Browse AI's performance on changing websites?
Best practices for dynamic website extraction:
During robot setup:
Use Browse AI's recommended datasets feature during creation
Select multiple example elements when training robots
Test robots thoroughly before deploying monitoring
Avoid interacting with cookie banners during training when possible
Ongoing monitoring:
Set appropriate monitoring frequencies based on your needs
Review failure notifications promptly when they occur
Check usage reports regularly to monitor success rates
Use session cookies for logged-in sites when possible
When issues occur:
Review the specific failure messages for guidance
Consider retraining robots if websites have changed significantly
Use the "Update Session Cookies" feature for login-required sites
Contact support for persistent or complex issues
Integration setup:
Connect to Google Sheets, Airtable, or other tools for automatic updates
Set up webhook notifications for real-time alerts
Use API integration for custom workflows
Configure Zapier or other automation tools for complex workflows
What are Browse AI's current limitations with changing websites?
CAPTCHA handling:
Handles common bot challenges such as Cloudflare automatically; some high-security sites can't be reached
Does not support custom CAPTCHAs
May require manual intervention for complex security challenges
High-security websites:
Some sites have advanced bot detection that Browse AI cannot bypass
Particularly challenging for sites requiring complex authentication
May not work with all 2FA/MFA implementations
Technical constraints:
Cookie consent banners can cause failures if they appear differently than during training
Some websites reject cookies from different IP addresses
Complex JavaScript applications may require specific handling
Frequent A/B testing can cause inconsistent behavior
When manual intervention may be needed:
Major website redesigns or structural changes
New security measures or bot detection systems
Changes to login processes or authentication requirements
Custom or unusual website implementations
What support is available when robots stop working?
Automatic features:
Failure notifications keep you informed of issues
Usage reports show success rates and performance trends
Retry logic handles temporary failures automatically
Guidance links in notifications help improve performance
Self-service options:
Robot retraining tools for updating existing robots
Documentation for troubleshooting common issues
Settings adjustments for authentication and monitoring
Bulk operations for managing multiple robots
Support channels:
Email support for all users (basic support on free plans)
Priority email support for Professional plan users
Live chat support available for higher-tier plans
Detailed help articles for common scenarios
Professional services:
Managed services available for complex extraction needs
Custom robot development for challenging websites
Dedicated support for business-critical applications
Custom integrations and data transformation services
Important: Success rates and robot performance can vary significantly based on website complexity, security measures, and change frequency. While each robot step records several ways to find an element, some scenarios may require manual adjustments or alternative approaches.