On October 21, OpenAI launched ChatGPT Atlas, an AI browser built on top of ChatGPT. While retaining the look and feel of a traditional browser, its core functionality allows users to directly use ChatGPT on any webpage to generate summaries, answer questions, or complete various tasks—essentially embedding a smart ChatGPT engine within the browser.

OpenAI Launches AI Browser ChatGPT Atlas

Atlas will initially launch on macOS, followed by support for Windows, iOS, and Android, and will be free for all users.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, speaking about the Atlas product philosophy during a live stream, said, "We believe that artificial intelligence represents a rare, once-in-a-decade opportunity to rethink what a browser is and how to use the web most efficiently and enjoyably."

According to Adam Fry, product lead at OpenAI, ChatGPT Atlas will feature a sidebar that automatically captures the context of screen content. Users can access ChatGPT in any text field to write or edit without having to copy and paste repeatedly.

In addition, ChatGPT Atlas features a browser history function, meaning ChatGPT can record the websites users visit and their actions, and use this information to personalize their responses. For example, a user can ask ChatGPT, "Find all the job postings I viewed last week and create an industry trend summary so I can prepare for interviews." Users always have control over the browser history stored in Atlas, and can view, archive, or delete it at any time.

Using the Atlas browser, users can also use "agent mode" to have ChatGPT perform tasks. For example, when planning a dinner party, users can simply give the recipe to ChatGPT, which will automatically search supermarkets, add the necessary ingredients to the shopping cart, and have them delivered to their home. During work, users can also directly instruct ChatGPT to retrieve past team documents, conduct the latest competitor research, and compile key findings into a briefing. Currently, this mode is still in the experimental stage and is only available to users who pay a monthly fee for ChatGPT Plus and Pro versions.

Browsers are rapidly becoming the next battleground in the artificial intelligence industry. Tech companies have been heavily investing in their own browsers and new AI features, attempting to wrest market share from Google's Chrome, which holds nearly 72% of the global browser market.

Several startups have already launched their own AI browsers, such as Perplexity's Comet and Dia from The Browser Company, a New York-based browser company. Google and Microsoft have also been trying to upgrade their products by adding AI features to Chrome and Edge, respectively, in an effort to give their traditional browsers a competitive edge.

Compared to other AI browsers launched by startups, Atlas's core advantage lies in its emphasis on "deep integration of ChatGPT into the browser," reducing the steps users need to take to switch from a browser to a chat tool. Furthermore, OpenAI emphasizes that Atlas has stronger memory capabilities, able to remember users' browsing history.

On the day of Atlas's launch, Alphabet's stock price closed down 2.4%, reflecting investor concerns about potential threats to Alphabet's core business. Google's Chrome browser has consistently held a dominant market share in the web browser market, and any new entrant relying on OpenAI's artificial intelligence capabilities could pose a competitive challenge.

Gene Munster, managing partner of Deepwater Asset Management, believes that both OpenAI and Google can win in the search field. Atlas raises the bar for browsers, and Google may respond within a year.