OpenAI announced the launch of its new web browser, Atlas, placing the ChatGPT creator in direct competition with Google as more users turn to artificial intelligence for information. By positioning itself as a gateway to online searches, OpenAI aims to attract more internet traffic and generate revenue from digital advertising.
Despite having over 800 million users of ChatGPT, many utilize the service for free, causing OpenAI, headquartered in San Francisco, to operate at a loss. To address this, the company is seeking ways to become profitable.
Atlas will debut on Apple laptops with macOS, with plans to expand to Microsoft’s Windows, Apple’s iOS, and Google’s Android platforms. This launch follows a recent statement by an OpenAI executive expressing interest in acquiring Google’s Chrome browser, which was not mandated by a federal judge in a recent antitrust case due to advancements in the AI industry reshaping competition.
OpenAI’s browser will face a significant challenge against Chrome, which boasts approximately three billion users globally and incorporates AI features from Google’s Gemini technology. Chrome’s success story could serve as a model for OpenAI’s entry into the browser market, much like how Google disrupted the dominance of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer with the introduction of Chrome in 2008.
Another AI startup, Perplexity, introduced its Comet browser earlier this year and also explored acquiring Chrome, submitting a failed $34.5 billion bid following the court’s decision not to break up Google.