OpenAI’s new ChatGPT-powered browser, Atlas, officially launched Tuesday for macOS users — and it’s not just another Chrome clone.
According to OpenAI, ChatGPT is at the core of Atlas, and it blends internet navigation with the capabilities of agentic AI. This browser can take actions such as making appointments and filling grocery carts on behalf of the user.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, said on Tuesday during a surprise livestream that he thinks the future of browsing “looks more like a conversation.”
“We think AI represents a rare, once-a-decade opportunity to rethink what a browser can be,” said Altman. “Tabs were great, but we haven’t seen a lot of browser innovation since then.”
How to access Atlas?
At the moment, Atlas is only available for Mac users, and the “agent mode” is limited to Plus, Pro, and Business users.
According to OpenAI’s live demo, Mac users can download the app, drag it into their Applications folder, and sign in with their ChatGPT account. Once logged in, Atlas greets users with a series of setup prompts, allowing them to import data from other browsers, grant keychain access, enable “browser memories,” or make Atlas their default browser.
How does Atlas differ from other browsers?
That “browser memories” toggle is what sets Atlas apart from traditional browsers, according to OpenAI.
When turned on, ChatGPT can remember the sites you’ve visited and use that context to personalize searches, suggest relevant pages, or instantly pull up something you looked at days ago.
The browser’s “agent mode” takes the idea of personalization further. An AI agent can handle web-based tasks such as researching, analyzing data, planning trips, or even booking appointments. In the live demo, the agent mode in Atlas was able to look at a recipe, break down what was needed for eight people, and automatically fill an Instacart cart from Safeway using prior browsing data.
The browser interface looks similar to ChatGPT, and you type into a chat bar. Except, with Atlas, you can, among other things:
- Pull up websites, like a traditional browser, and use the “Ask ChatGPT” button to pull up a ChatGPT sidebar to chat with
- Use an AI agent to complete a task for you (à la grocery shopping in the demo)
- Have ChatGPT edit your emails directly in the draft
- Or search your past browser history using plain English
The next AI battleground and its risks
Browsers have been quickly emerging as the next AI battleground. Startups like Perplexity’s Comet and The Browser Company’s Dia are experimenting with similar AI integrations, while Google and Microsoft are racing to integrate their own AI assistants into Chrome and Edge.
The launch of Atlas could also escalate the rivalry between OpenAI and Google. Alphabet’s shares sank by more than 2.2% as of market closing time on Tuesday.
ChatGPT has more than 800 million users, which is small compared to Google Chrome’s 3 billion-strong user base. Depending on how many choose to make Atlas their primary browser, that could open doors to digital ad revenue for OpenAI and directly compete with Google’s profits.
While users of traditional browsers and chatbots alike cede troves of data to Big Tech, an agent-based experience opens a new frontier of privacy risks.
OpenAI product lead Pranav Vishnu addressed some of these concerns during the livestream. Vishnu said that the AI agent only operates on tabs and can’t execute code on a user’s computer or access other files, and that users could choose to log out of ChatGPT’s agent.
“Despite all of the power and awesome capabilities you get with sharing your browser with ChatGPT, that also imposes an entirely new set of risks,” said Vishnu.
In the demo, the agent went as far as putting groceries into a cart, but notably, it did not complete the purchase.
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