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OpenAI launched its new web browser, ChatGPT Atlas, on Tuesday—placing the company into the browser market and in direct competition with industry leader like Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. In AI browser market, Atlas places OpenAI in direct competition with companies like Perplexity, Copilot and Gemini which have already launched their AI browsers.
Atlas is a browser built with ChatGPT at its core, meaning the familiar AI chatbot experience is deeply integrated into how users browse the web. The browser includes a ChatGPT interface that allows users to ask questions of the chatbot more easily alongside what they are viewing on their desktop.
OpenAI already has a large user base—with ChatGPT reporting more than 800 million active users every week. So, venturing into browser market gives the company a more central role in how people access the web. According to FT, OpenAI has been attempting to draw in more users, exploring ways to monetise its free users, and draw in additional revenues.
With Atlas, the AI company has a more direct connection with its users who currently access ChatGPT through browsers owned by Google or Microsoft. With user consent, Atlas—which complements ChatGPT’s existing mobile app—can draw on browsing history to provide more personalized responses and recommendations.
However, it's worth noting that the ChatGPT Atlas is only available globally for macOS users at the initial launch. The artificial intelligence (AI) browser versions for Windows, iOS and Android are coming later.
How Atlas Stands Out—And Who It’s Up Against
A sidebar within the browser lets users ask ChatGPT to summarise content, compare products, analyse data, or interact with whatever they’re viewing. In addition to that, a preview feature called “agent mode” enables ChatGPT (for paid users) to perform tasks on the user’s behalf—such as researching or making purchases—by navigating websites and taking action.
Furthermore, the “browser memories” allow the browser to remember past pages and context (if enabled), so the assistant can pick up where you left off. Users retain control: they can turn this off or clear the data.
However, it's important to note that OpenAI is not the first company to launch AI browser. Several companies have integrated AI into their browsers, and some popular ones are: Chrome’s Gemini integration, Brave, Opera Neon, Microsoft's AI Copilot Mode in Edge, and Perplexity's Comet AI browser.
Google launched its Gemini chatbot in Chrome last month, and search start-up Perplexity released its Comet AI browser in July. Microsoft, OpenAI’s largest financial backer, also announced a rollout of an AI Copilot Mode into its Edge browser in July.
