OpenAI Prepares AI Browser to Rival Google Chrome * SciTechTimes.com

OpenAI is preparing to launch an AI-powered browser built on Chromium, aiming to challenge Google Chrome’s dominance and reshape web navigation.

A Strategic Leap into Browsing

OpenAI is reportedly weeks away from releasing its own AI-powered web browser, a move that could disrupt Google Chrome’s long-standing dominance. Built atop Chromium, Google’s open-source browser code, the new product will integrate ChatGPT-like features directly into the browsing experience. Rather than redirecting users to external websites, the browser will retain interactions within a native chat interface, allowing AI agents to perform tasks such as booking reservations or filling out forms. This approach marks a significant shift in how users engage with the web.

Targeting Google’s Core Advantage

Chrome plays a pivotal role in Alphabet’s advertising empire, supplying user data that fuels targeted ad revenue—nearly three-quarters of the company’s income. OpenAI’s browser, if adopted by ChatGPT’s 500 million weekly active users, could erode this advantage by diverting traffic and data away from Google’s ecosystem. The Department of Justice has already challenged Google’s monopoly in online search, and OpenAI’s entry adds pressure to a vulnerable flank. By building its own browser rather than relying on plug-ins, OpenAI gains greater control over user data and experience.

Rising Competition and Market Dynamics

OpenAI joins a growing field of AI-first browsers, including Perplexity’s Comet and offerings from Brave and The Browser Company. Chrome still commands over two-thirds of the global browser market, with Safari trailing at 16%. OpenAI’s recent $6.5 billion acquisition of io, an AI hardware startup founded by Apple’s former design chief Jony Ive, signals broader ambitions to embed AI across consumer and enterprise touchpoints. The browser launch is part of a larger strategy to integrate OpenAI’s services into daily life.

English summary

Interesting Insight OpenAI hired two former Google vice presidents who helped build Chrome’s original architecture. Their expertise could give OpenAI a technical edge in crafting a browser that not only competes with Chrome but redefines how AI agents interact with the web. If successful, this browser could become the foundation for a new generation of AI-native interfaces, shifting the paradigm from search-driven navigation to task-oriented assistance.