Wed, 22 Oct 2025

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 ChatGPT-maker OpenAI releases browser in attempt to rival Google

ChatGPT Atlas was unveiled as the company seeks new ways to corral users to its online offerings.
OpenAI has launched its new AI-powered web browser, Atlas, which challenges Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge for market share. The browser does away with the traditional address bar and is built around OpenAI's popular chatbot, ChatGPT. The company hopes to monetize its massive user base and growing reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) by offering a paid agent mode that conducts searches independently. The browser will be available exclusively on Apple's MacOS operating system for now, with no word on when it will launch on other platforms. OpenAI has announced partnerships with e-commerce sites like Etsy and Shopify, as well as booking services like Expedia and Booking.com, in an effort to corral users towards its online services. ChatGPT has reached 800 million weekly active users, up from 400 million in February, according to data firm Demandsage. Analysts are skeptical that Atlas will pose a serious challenge to Chrome or Microsoft Edge, but OpenAI's move comes at a time when Google is facing increased scrutiny over its online search dominance. A recent decision by the US Justice Department did not order Google to spin off its Chrome browser, despite being declared an illegal monopolist in online search. Meanwhile, a growing number of internet users are opting for large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT for searching and recommendations, with 5.99% of desktop searches going to LLMs as of July, according to research firm Datos. Google is also heavily invested in AI, prioritizing AI-generated answers in its search results over the past year. The launch of Atlas marks OpenAI's latest effort to capitalize on its growing user base and challenge Google's dominance in online search.
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