OpenAI Launches Web Browser to Compete with Google Chrome

OpenAI is reportedly on the verge of launching an AI-driven web browser aimed at competing with Google Chrome, which currently dominates the market. Insider sources indicate that the release is expected in the coming weeks. The new browser intends to leverage artificial intelligence to significantly alter the web browsing experience for consumers. With this innovation, OpenAI could gain direct access to a crucial element of Google’s success—user data.

If successfully adopted by ChatGPT’s estimated 500 million weekly active users, OpenAI’s browser could threaten Google’s advertising revenue stream. Chrome is integral to Alphabet’s ad business, accounting for nearly three-quarters of its overall revenue. Chrome not only helps Google effectively target ads but also enables it to guide search traffic directly to its platform. The new browser will likely incorporate a ChatGPT-like chat interface to facilitate certain user interactions without navigating away from the browser.

This feature aligns with OpenAI’s broader strategy to integrate its services into both personal and professional facets of consumers’ lives. Despite OpenAI’s aspirations, it faces significant challenges. Google Chrome boasts over 3 billion users and claims more than two-thirds of the global browser market share, with Apple’s Safari trailing at 16%. Additionally, the competition is heating up; for example, Perplexity recently launched an AI browser that performs tasks for users, while other startups like The Browser Company and Brave are also developing AI-enhanced browsing solutions.

The OpenAI browser is built on Chromium, Google’s open-source code, allowing greater data control. OpenAI’s decision to create its own browser, rather than merely extending existing ones, indicates a strategic move to enhance its data collection capabilities.