Published Date : 22/10/2025
OpenAI, the company behind the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT, has unveiled an artificial intelligence-powered web browser called Atlas. The new browser is designed to challenge established players like Google Chrome, which is the most widely used browser globally. Atlas does away with the traditional address bar, a key feature in search, as OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman emphasized that it was built around ChatGPT, making it available on Apple's MacOS operating system on Tuesday.
The introduction of Atlas is part of OpenAI's strategy to find new ways to monetize its significant investment in artificial intelligence and capitalize on its expanding user base. One of the standout features of Atlas is the paid agent mode, which allows the chatbot to conduct searches on behalf of users. This feature is exclusively available to paying ChatGPT subscribers and is designed to make searches faster and more useful by working with the user's browsing context.
OpenAI has been actively expanding its ecosystem, forming partnerships with e-commerce platforms like Etsy and Shopify, as well as travel booking services such as Expedia and Booking.com. These collaborations are aimed at driving users toward OpenAI's online services. At the company's DevDay event earlier this month, Sam Altman announced that ChatGPT had reached 800 million weekly active users, a significant increase from 400 million in February, according to data from Demandsage.
Industry experts are divided on the potential impact of Atlas. Pat Moorhead, CEO and chief analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, believes that early adopters will be interested in trying out the new browser. However, he remains skeptical about Atlas posing a serious threat to established browsers like Chrome or Microsoft Edge. Moorhead noted that mainstream, beginner, and corporate users are likely to wait for their preferred browsers to incorporate similar capabilities. Microsoft Edge, for instance, already offers many of the features that Atlas is touting.
OpenAI's entry into the browser market comes a year after Google was declared an illegal monopolist in online search. In a recent decision aimed at addressing Google's dominance, the search giant was not required to spin off its Chrome browser, as the US Justice Department had initially requested. Despite this, a growing number of internet users are turning to large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT for their search needs. According to research firm Datos, as of July, 5.99% of desktop browser searches were directed to LLMs, more than double the figure from the previous year.
Google, recognizing the importance of AI in search, has been heavily investing in this area. Over the past year, the company has prioritized AI-generated answers in its search results. As the competition in the AI and browser markets intensifies, it will be interesting to see how users and the tech industry respond to OpenAI's Atlas and other similar innovations.
Q: What is Atlas?
A: Atlas is an AI-powered web browser developed by OpenAI, designed to compete with established browsers like Google Chrome. It integrates ChatGPT and offers a paid agent mode for enhanced search capabilities.
Q: Who is the target audience for Atlas?
A: The target audience for Atlas includes tech-savvy users and early adopters who are interested in AI-powered browsing experiences. However, mainstream and corporate users may wait for their preferred browsers to incorporate similar features.
Q: What is the paid agent mode in Atlas?
A: The paid agent mode in Atlas allows the chatbot to conduct searches on behalf of users, making the browsing experience faster and more useful by working with the user's browsing context. This feature is available only to paying ChatGPT subscribers.
Q: How does Atlas differ from traditional browsers?
A: Atlas does away with the traditional address bar and is built around ChatGPT, integrating AI directly into the browsing experience. It offers a more interactive and personalized search process.
Q: What is the significance of Atlas in the context of the browser market?
A: Atlas represents OpenAI's effort to challenge established browsers like Chrome and Edge. It is part of OpenAI's strategy to monetize its AI technology and expand its user base, as more users turn to AI for their search needs.