Open AI, the maker of the world’s most popular LLM AI chatbot, ChatGPT, has launched a web browser to rival Google Chrome, potentially accelerating the change in how people search and access information.
The launch comes as OpenAI seeks new ROI for its massive investment in AI, and capitalise on its growing user base – figures from research firm Datos said that as of July, 5.99% of search on desktop browsers went to LLMs, more than double the figure from a year earlier.
Atlas should be easy to use for those who already search with the world’s current most used internet browsing portal, Google Chrome, with the use of tabs and the ability to go into an “incognito” mode so viewing activity is not recorded, while public viewing history will be searchable through the homepage.
“Atlas should feel very familiar,” its product lead, Adam Fry, said. “So it has all of your tabs, bookmarks, autofill for passwords, all the things you’re used to.”
Another of the Open AI team insisted that the new browser was more than just tagging AI onto a familiar browser: “We wanted to make sure that Atlas didn’t feel like your old browser, just with a chat button that was bolted on,” lead engineer Ben Goodger said.
That means no need to copy and paste between tabs, with ChatGPT available on every page for any text box on the internet.
Rival Google is also heavily invested in AI, and for the last year has prioritised AI-generated answers to queries in its search results, with mixed responses so far.
Atlas is available now for Apple Mac users across the world, and even those signed up to the free version of ChatGPT can access Atlas. Those paying for ChatGPT via OpenAI’s Plus and Pro packages can also make use of the AI agent feature, which conducts searches on its own for users and will make “improvements that make it faster and more useful by working with your browsing context.” The new browser is also available in Beta for Business users.
Apple users can Download at chatgpt.com/atlas. Getting started is easy: when you open Atlas for the first time, sign in to ChatGPT and bring your bookmarks, saved passwords, and browsing history with you by importing them from your current browser.
A date for when Atlas will become available on Windows, iPhone iOS and Android has not yet been given.
