Open AI is entering the world of browsers with the launch of ChatGPT Atlas, an AI-enabled browser.
Atlas, now available globally, can be accessed through Apple’s macOS, with support coming soon to Windows, iOS, and Android. The announcement comes several months after rumors in July that OpenAI would launch a web browser that would challenge the dominance of GoogleIt’s Chrome.
in a live broadcastCEO Sam Altman said he hopes Atlas will help create a new way of interacting and using the web, one where people chat with the browser instead of typing a URL.
“We believe AI represents a rare once-in-a-decade opportunity to rethink what a browser can be and how to use it, and how to use the web more productively and enjoyable,” Altman said. “Lashes were great, but we haven’t seen much innovation since then, so we were really excited to really rethink what it could be.”
Atlas is intended to offer users a more seamless way to browse the web and ask questions to chat agents. Invite users to search for information by sending a message or question, or simply typing a URL.
Part of Atlas’ value proposition is the ability to turn agents to perform tasks directly in the browser. However, agents will only be available to ChatGPT Business, Plus, and Pro users for now.
Users can download Atlas from its dedicated site. placebut they must log in to their ChatGPT account to start using it.
Chatting with a browser about your memories
Atlas differs from browsers like Chrome or Apple‘s Safari with its chat function. The home page is essentially ChatGPT, with a prompt box and several suggested questions. During the livestream, OpenAI said that the more people use Atlas, the more personalized the suggestions will become.
The chat box “follows” the user, meaning people can chat with ChatGPT on any website. The model will read what is in the browser and answer any questions users may have.
When you first open Atlas, it prompts you to import data from other browsers you may be using. When I set up mine, it only asked me for Chrome or Safari, the two browsers I primarily use. Importing browser data creates a memory base for Atlas that ChatGPT will reference. So far, Atlas’s memory is unpredictable. I logged into my Chrome history and when I asked about a recent search for a travel destination I did (and have been searching every day for a month), Atlas claimed it had never searched for that information.
In-browser chat also reduces the copy-paste process that users often resort to when, for example, writing an email. People can open their Gmail and then ask ChatGPT in the browser to help them sort the message. Of course, Gmail or any other Google Workspace product already offers Gemini-powered capabilitieslike rewriting emails.
OpenAI Applications CEO Fidji Simo said in a blog post That users can turn the browser’s memory on or off and control what it can see.
Agent mode in the browser
In recent months, OpenAI has beefed up its agent infrastructure with the expectation that individuals and businesses will increasingly rely on agents.
Atlas agents can use the browser if necessary to perform a task. For example, you could be looking at a recipe and ask the chat to create a shopping list. The agent can then start shopping at their preferred grocery site. OpenAI has already added a buy button for ChatGPT and proposed an agent trading protocol, which could be useful for Atlas. However, during the demo, OpenAI staff chose not to allow the agent to proceed to purchase products.
Having the agent directly in the browser goes one step beyond point A, where the browser uses an agent in Chrome. Ideally, you already know what you were looking at and have the information you need to access and run it in the browser.
A new browser war
With more people using AI models and chat platforms to web searchesThe launch of an AI-enabled browser has become another battleground for model vendors. Of course, as Chrome has become more popular, it has slowly added AI capabilities thanks to Google’s Gemini models. Google has also been experimenting with other AI-powered search capabilities, such as generative image search. But companies like Perplexitywith his Comet Navigatorhopes to take on Chrome. Operaa long-time Chrome competitor, it also repositioned itself as an AI-powered browser by incorporating AI features into its platform.
For some, Atlas represents a new way to use a web browser.
However, many pointed out that Atlas doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel, as it shares some features with Comet.
The interesting thing about Atlas is how familiar it is. It looks like ChatGPT, but also has tabs like Chrome.
OpenAI emphasized that this is the first version of Atlas, implying that it may not be its final form. What is certain is that Atlas is OpenAI’s first salvo in the AI browser wars.
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