OpenAI Threatens Google Chrome and Perplexity’s Comet with Launch of ChatGPT Atlas, an AI Browser with Built-In GPT Model
OpenAI has officially entered the web browser arena with ChatGPT Atlas, its new AI-powered browser that directly integrates the ChatGPT large language model into the browsing experience. The move positions OpenAI as a serious challenger to both Google Chrome and Perplexity’s Comet, marking one of the company’s most ambitious product expansions to date.
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) October 21, 2025
The company teased the announcement through a short video on X, showing a stylized browser tab with the words “Livestream, Today, 10 a.m. PT.” The reveal event is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time (1:00 p.m. Eastern Time),
OpenAI's ChatGPT Atlas browser will be macOS first with Windows, iOS, and Android later on. pic.twitter.com/65ZXFsFSGM
— Max Weinbach (@MaxWinebach) October 21, 2025
According to early information shared by Max Winebach, ChatGPT Atlas will debut first on macOS, with Windows, Android, and iOS versions to follow. The browser is designed to deliver an intelligent, context-aware experience powered by GPT, effectively merging conversational AI with traditional web navigation.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT Atlas introduces several advanced AI integrations that differentiate it from traditional browsers:
Ask ChatGPT Sidebar: Understands the context of the page you are viewing and answers relevant questions without requiring a copy-paste or separate search.
Smart Suggestions: Offers intelligent text suggestions as you type in search bars or web forms.
Tab Management via AI: ChatGPT can open, close, bookmark, and re-open tabs on command.
Agent Mode (for Plus, Pro, and Business Users): Enables fully automated task execution such as purchasing groceries via Instacart using a list of provided ingredients.
Unified Memory Base: Lets users synchronize their ChatGPT history and browser interactions for continuous learning and personalization.
Real-Time Agent Visualization: Users can watch ChatGPT “agents” perform actions live in the browser.
Local Summarization: ChatGPT Atlas can summarize web pages using an on-device model, improving privacy and reducing latency.
OpenAI’s “Agent Mode” takes the browser beyond simple search assistance, introducing autonomous browsing actions that integrate with logged accounts (if permitted). This makes ChatGPT Atlas not just a search or productivity tool, but an interactive AI workspace that can navigate the web on your behalf.
The release comes as Perplexity AI has already entered the browser market with its own AI browser, Comet, which launched earlier this year. Perplexity initially offered Comet under a $200 monthly plan before transitioning to a free, open-access model. OpenAI’s Atlas will likely face immediate comparison in terms of both accessibility and functionality.
Meanwhile, Google Chrome continues to dominate with a 71.77% global browser market share as of September 2025 (StatCounter). With Chrome embedding AI capabilities via Gemini, and Microsoft’s Edge integrating Copilot, OpenAI’s entry raises the competitive stakes in the fight for the next generation of AI-driven web experiences.
By combining natural language interaction, automation, and real-time task execution, ChatGPT Atlas could redefine what users expect from a browser, moving from passive web navigation to active, AI-assisted browsing.
Do you think ChatGPT Atlas can disrupt the dominance of Chrome and reshape how we browse the web? Share your thoughts below.
