TLDR
- OpenAI released Atlas, an AI-powered browser with ChatGPT integration for macOS paying users
- Agent mode enables automated online shopping, research, and task completion without manual clicking
- Browser includes safety features that pause actions on banking sites and block unauthorized file downloads
- Atlas competes directly with Google Chrome’s 71.9% browser market share
- Windows, iOS and Android versions coming later with global macOS availability now
OpenAI announced Atlas on Tuesday, a new web browser that uses ChatGPT to automate online tasks. The browser is available now on macOS for paying subscribers.
Atlas enters a browser market dominated by Google Chrome. The search giant controls 71.9% of global browser usage. OpenAI hopes to attract some of ChatGPT’s 800 million weekly users to switch browsers.
The browser works by embedding ChatGPT directly into the browsing experience. Users can open a sidebar to summarize web pages, compare products, or analyze data from any site. The browser remembers context from previously visited pages to provide better assistance.
How Agent Mode Works
The main feature is agent mode, which lets ChatGPT control the browser automatically. The AI can open tabs, click buttons, fill forms, and navigate websites without user input. This automation completes multi-step tasks from beginning to end.
OpenAI demonstrated the feature by having the agent find a recipe online. The AI then visited Instacart’s website, searched for all recipe ingredients, added them to a shopping cart, and prepared for checkout. The entire process took several minutes but required no manual clicking.
Agent mode can handle various tasks beyond shopping. Users can ask it to research topics, book appointments, organize events, or plan trips. The AI works in the background while users browse other sites.
Atlas joins other AI browsers like Perplexity’s Comet, Brave Browser, and Opera’s Neon. These browsers compete by offering features that summarize content, generate code, and automate form filling.
Privacy and Security Features
OpenAI built safety controls into Atlas to protect users. The browser cannot run code, download files, or install extensions without permission. It has no access to other applications on the computer or the file system.
The agent pauses before interacting with sensitive websites. This includes banking sites, payment processors, and other financial services. Users must approve these actions manually.
Google has responded to AI browser competition by adding features to Chrome. The company displays AI-generated overviews in search results. Last month, Google added its Gemini AI model to Chrome for U.S. users.
A federal judge ruled in September that Google can keep Chrome and continue paying partners to promote its search engine. The judge noted that AI competition now threatens traditional search enough to allow these payments.
Alphabet stock dropped 1.8% after the Atlas announcement. Analysts believe OpenAI may use the browser to launch an advertising business. This would compete with Google’s search ads, which represent 90% of that market.
Release Plans
Atlas is available globally on macOS starting Tuesday. OpenAI plans to release Windows, iOS, and Android versions later. All versions require a paid ChatGPT subscription to access agent mode features.
The company launched ChatGPT in late 2022 and has faced competition from Google and startup Anthropic. OpenAI continues expanding into new products to grow beyond its chatbot origins.
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