OpenAI to Launch AI-Powered Web Browser, Targeting Google Chrome’s Dominance

OpenAI is preparing to launch a groundbreaking AI-powered web browser that will directly compete with Google Chrome, according to sources familiar with the matter. The browser, expected to debut in the coming weeks, integrates a ChatGPT-like interface and is designed to shift the web browsing experience from traditional clicks to conversational interactions. This move could give OpenAI access to valuable user behavior data that Google currently leverages to dominate digital advertising.

The new browser is part of OpenAI’s broader strategy to expand its presence across users’ personal and professional lives. By integrating AI agents capable of performing tasks such as booking reservations and filling out forms, OpenAI aims to redefine how users interact with the web. The tool will operate partially through a native chat interface, keeping users within the OpenAI ecosystem rather than redirecting them to third-party sites.

This development could pose a serious challenge to Google, whose Chrome browser holds more than two-thirds of the global market with over 3 billion users. Chrome also plays a critical role in Alphabet’s ad revenue by supplying user data for targeted advertising. OpenAI’s direct control over its own browser will allow it to bypass Google’s data dominance and monetize user interactions more effectively.

The browser, reportedly built on Chromium (the open-source foundation of Chrome), is not OpenAI’s first signal of interest in competing in this space. The company recently hired former Google Chrome executives and even expressed interest in acquiring Chrome if regulators force a divestiture. Instead of relying on plug-ins or extensions, OpenAI has opted to create its own browser for deeper data access and greater autonomy.

OpenAI’s move comes amid an intensifying AI race, with competitors like Perplexity, Brave, and The Browser Company launching their own AI-enabled browsers. As OpenAI expands beyond chatbots into hardware and browsers, the tech landscape is poised for major disruption, particularly in areas long dominated by Alphabet and Apple.

Source: Reuters