OpenAI announced on Tuesday the launch of its new web browser, Atlas, which will now compete directly with Google as more users turn to artificial intelligence for online queries. By positioning itself as a search gateway, OpenAI aims to attract increased web traffic and benefit from digital advertising revenue.
Despite having over 800 million users, many of whom use it for free, OpenAI’s ChatGPT is currently operating at a loss. The San Francisco-based company is seeking ways to become profitable, with the introduction of Atlas as a potential solution.
The Atlas browser will initially be available on Apple laptops running macOS, with plans for subsequent releases on Microsoft’s Windows, Apple’s iOS, and Google’s Android platforms. This move comes shortly after an OpenAI executive expressed interest in acquiring Google’s Chrome browser, following concerns over Google’s search engine monopoly.
In a recent ruling, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta rejected the proposed sale of Chrome, citing advancements in the AI industry as factors reshaping the competitive landscape. OpenAI faces a significant challenge in competing with Chrome, which boasts a user base of approximately three billion globally and has integrated AI features from Google’s Gemini technology.
Chrome’s success story may serve as a model for OpenAI, reminiscent of how Chrome disrupted the dominance of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer in the browser market. Perplexity, a smaller AI startup, also entered the browser market with its Comet browser earlier this year and expressed interest in acquiring Chrome, though the attempt was thwarted by legal decisions.
Overall, OpenAI’s foray into the browser market marks a strategic move in its quest for profitability amid the evolving landscape of AI technology and internet usage patterns.