OpenAI Launches AI Browser ChatGPT Atlas to Challenge Google

OpenAI unveiled ChatGPT Atlas, an artificial intelligence-powered web browser. The new browser directly challenges Google Chrome’s market dominance, building on the popularity of OpenAI’s chatbot.

Credit: OpenAI

This launch expands OpenAI’s presence into users’ online lives, aiming to collect data on browser behaviour. It could accelerate a shift toward AI-driven search, intensifying competition between OpenAI and Google.

If the unveiling of ChatGPT Atlas occurs as planned, Alphabet shares, which owns the Chrome browser, could potentially see a reaction. ChatGPT Atlas joins other AI browsers, including Perplexity’s Comet, Brave Browser, and Opera’s Neon.

Credit: OpenAI

Atlas allows users to open a ChatGPT sidebar in any window to summarise content, compare products, or analyse data. An "agent mode," available to paid users, enables ChatGPT to interact with websites.

This mode can complete tasks such as researching and shopping for a trip. In a Tuesday demo, developers showcased ChatGPT finding an online recipe and automatically purchasing ingredients via Instacart.

The browser is currently available globally on Apple’s macOS. OpenAI plans to release versions for Windows, iOS, and Android at a later date.

Sam Altman leads OpenAI, which disrupted the tech industry with ChatGPT’s launch in late 2022. The organisation has since faced competition from Google and startup Anthropic, seeking new growth areas.

Google has been adapting to changing search behaviours since ChatGPT’s debut. Google search results can now display an AI overview, or AI Mode, offering a chatbot-like experience alongside traditional links.

Last month, Google integrated its Gemini AI model into Chrome for U.S. users, with plans to bring Gemini to the iOS Chrome app. In Sept., a federal judge ruled Google would not have to sell its Chrome browser.

Credit: OpenAI

Judge Amit Mehta stated Google could continue paying partners to promote its search engine. He noted significant investment in generative AI by tech organisations and startups now threatens traditional search, making such payments more acceptable.

Despite increasing competition, Google Chrome maintained 71.9% global browser market share in Sept., according to StatCounter. However, analysts suggest a new browser from OpenAI could introduce fresh competition for advertising revenue.

Gil Luria, an analyst at D.A. Davidson, commented, “Integrating chat into a browser is a precursor for OpenAI starting to sell ads, which it has yet to do so far. Once OpenAI starts selling ads that could take away a significant part of search advertising share from Google, which has around 90% of that spend category.”

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• OpenAI launched ChatGPT Atlas, an AI-powered web browser, on Tuesday.

• The browser challenges Google Chrome's market dominance and introduces features like a ChatGPT sidebar and "agent mode".

• ChatGPT Atlas is available globally on macOS, with Windows, iOS, and Android versions planned for later release.

Source: REUTERS