OpenAI’s Atlas Browser Takes Direct Aim at Google Chrome
OpenAI announced on On Tuesday, it is rolling out a new Internet browser called Atlas that integrates directly with ChatGPT. Atlas includes features such as a sidebar window that people can use to ask ChatGPT questions about the websites they visit. There is also an AI agent that can click around and complete tasks on behalf of a user.
“We think AI is a rare once-in-a-decade opportunity to rethink what a browser can be,” said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman during a livestream announcing Atlas. “Tabs were great, but we haven't seen a lot of browser innovation since then.”
Atlas debuts as Silicon Valley races to use generative AI to change how people experience the Internet. Google has also announced a plethora of AI features for its popular Chrome browser, including a “sparkle” button that launches its Gemini chatbot. Chrome remains the most used browser worldwide.
OpenAI says the Atlas browser will be available to ChatGPT users worldwide on macOS starting today. Windows and mobile options are currently in the works. Atlas is free to use, although its agent features are reserved for subscribers to OpenAI's ChatGPT Plus or ChatGPT Pro Plans.
“We've made some major upgrades to search on ChatGPT or access through Atlas,” said Ryan O'Rouke, OpenAI's lead designer for the browser, during the live stream. When a user asks for movie reviews in the Atlas search bar, a chatbot-style response will appear first, rather than the more traditional collection of blue links that users might expect when searching the web through Google.
