OpenAI announced on Tuesday the launch of its new web browser, Atlas, positioning itself in direct competition with Google as more users turn to artificial intelligence for answers online. By becoming a gateway for internet searches, OpenAI aims to attract more traffic and generate revenue from digital advertising.
Despite having over 800 million users of ChatGPT, many of whom use it for free, OpenAI, headquartered in San Francisco, is currently operating at a loss and is seeking ways to become profitable. The company plans to roll out Atlas initially on Apple laptops running macOS, with future availability on Microsoft’s Windows, Apple’s iOS, and Google’s Android platforms.
Earlier this year, an executive from OpenAI mentioned the company’s interest in acquiring Google’s Chrome browser if mandated by a federal judge to prevent antitrust violations. However, the recent ruling by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta rejected the sale of Chrome, citing advancements in the AI industry as a factor reshaping the competitive landscape.
OpenAI faces a significant challenge in competing with Chrome, which boasts around three billion global users and has integrated AI features from Google’s Gemini technology. Despite this, OpenAI can draw inspiration from Chrome’s success story, which disrupted the browser market dominated by Microsoft’s Internet Explorer back in 2008.
In a similar move, Perplexity, a smaller AI startup, launched its Comet browser earlier this year and also expressed interest in acquiring Chrome. However, their $34.5 billion bid for Chrome was thwarted by the court’s decision against breaking up Google.
The introduction of Atlas marks OpenAI’s strategic entry into the browser market, where innovative AI technologies are shaping the future of online experiences.