- OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Atlas, an AI-powered browser for macOS with other platforms coming soon.
- The browser integrates ChatGPT to allow users to chat directly with web content.
- Features include a sidecar chat panel, browser history personalization, and a new Agent Mode for task automation.
- OpenAI aims to redefine web browsing and compete with Google Chrome’s dominance.
OpenAI has entered the browser market with the launch of ChatGPT Atlas, a new AI-powered web browser that blends artificial intelligence with everyday browsing. The company unveiled the product on Tuesday, describing it as a key step in reshaping how people find and use information online.
Atlas will first arrive on macOS, with versions for Windows, iOS, and Android coming soon. OpenAI says the browser will be available to all free ChatGPT users from the start.
A New Era of Browsing with ChatGPT at Its Core
OpenAI’s new browser places ChatGPT at the heart of the web experience. Instead of relying on traditional search results, users can now chat directly with the web. This means a person can ask a question, get an answer, and explore related pages without leaving the conversation.
Ben Goodger, OpenAI’s Engineering Lead for Atlas, said during a livestream that the goal was to make browsing feel natural and conversational. He explained that users will be able to chat with their search results, similar to what Google is experimenting with in its AI Mode.
By placing ChatGPT inside the browser, OpenAI aims to make it easier for users to gather information, summarize pages, and explore ideas without the hassle of switching tabs or copying text between windows.
The Rise of AI-Powered Browsers
The browser market has quietly become one of the most competitive areas in the AI world. For years, Google Chrome has dominated, but the rise of AI chatbots and assistants is changing how people work online. Startups like Perplexity with its Comet browser, and The Browser Company with Dia, have tried to rethink what a browser should do.
Tech giants are also moving fast. Google has been adding AI features to Chrome, while Microsoft continues to enhance Edge with Copilot tools. OpenAI’s decision to launch its own browser suggests it wants to be more than just an AI assistant inside other platforms.
Instead, it wants to create a space where ChatGPT is the main interface for the web itself.
Built-In Sidecar and Smart History Features
One of ChatGPT Atlas’s most talked-about features is its sidecar panel. This tool lets users chat with ChatGPT while browsing any webpage. The assistant automatically understands the context of what is on the screen. For example, if someone is reading a research paper, they can ask ChatGPT to summarize it or explain a term without copying anything.
This sidecar approach removes the friction that users face when trying to feed context to a chatbot. It turns every webpage into a conversation, not just a source of text.
Atlas also introduces browser history awareness, meaning ChatGPT can remember the sites you visit and how you interact with them. This allows it to personalize responses and offer smarter suggestions over time. OpenAI says this feature will be managed with privacy controls, giving users the ability to limit or delete their data.
Introducing Agent Mode for Automated Tasks
OpenAI is also bringing automation into the browser with what it calls Agent Mode. This feature lets ChatGPT complete simple tasks for users inside the browser. For example, users can ask it to fill out forms, organize research tabs, or compare product listings automatically.
Agent Mode will launch for users on the Plus, Pro, and Business tiers. Free users will still have access to most of the browsing and chat features, but automation will be part of the paid plans for now.
OpenAI acknowledges that this technology is still developing. Early versions of similar AI browsing agents, including those from Perplexity and Google, have struggled with complex or multi-step tasks. Still, the company believes that Agent Mode will improve quickly as users start experimenting with it in real scenarios.
Aiming to Redefine the Browser Experience
Nick Turley, Head of ChatGPT at OpenAI, shared his excitement about the future of browsers during OpenAI’s DevDay conference. He said browsers have evolved into something much more than tools for viewing websites. They are now platforms where people manage work, entertainment, communication, and creativity.
Turley believes ChatGPT is doing for browsers what browsers once did for the internet. “The browser used to be the window to the web. Now it can be your collaborator,” he said.
While OpenAI’s entry into this space is ambitious, it faces a steep challenge. Google Chrome has over 3 billion users worldwide, and habits around browsing are deeply ingrained. However, the growing interest in AI tools may push users to try something new if it offers a smoother and more intelligent experience.
In Silicon Valley, AI browsers have become a hot trend, but their reach is still small beyond the tech community. OpenAI is betting that Atlas’s mix of conversational browsing, automation, and personalization will help it reach everyday users.
As OpenAI positions ChatGPT Atlas as both a browser and an assistant, it could signal a shift in how people think about the web — not as something to search, but as something to talk to.
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