OpenAI’s ChatGPT-Powered Atlas Browser Challenges Chrome

The artificial intelligence landscape continues to evolve, with a new battleground emerging: web browsers. Following Perplexity’s Comet and Google’s integration of Gemini into Chrome, OpenAI has entered the arena with Atlas, a browser built around ChatGPT.

Atlas, currently available exclusively for macOS, is built on the Chromium engine, the same foundation used by Chrome. It requires a ChatGPT account, with free users gaining access to the new browser, while Plus and Pro subscribers enjoy increased response limits and access to advanced models.

The user experience is relatively straightforward, mirroring Comet’s functionality with its address bar, integrated AI interaction button, and a built-in search engine. A key feature is the seamless integration of ChatGPT, allowing users to interact with the AI without opening a separate application or tab. Search queries are often answered directly by ChatGPT, proving to be more efficient than traditional web searches, with the option to also perform standard Google searches.

One standout feature is ChatGPT’s “agent” mode, enabling it to control the browser and execute tasks based on user prompts. This functionality has proven useful for automating product searches, extracting data, analyzing text, and even retrieving images via HTML code inspection. While effective, the agent mode can be somewhat slow.

While Atlas shows promise, Comet remains a compelling alternative, offering a more agile and concise AI response. Google’s late entry into the agent-driven browser space is notable, with Gemini integration still forthcoming without a firm release date. It’s curious that Google, a dominant player in the browser market with Chrome and Chromium, is now competing against itself. Both Perplexity and OpenAI initially prioritized desktop versions, with Comet having a pre-registration for Android and Atlas yet to announce mobile support. The lack of a mobile experience is a significant omission.

The emergence of Atlas and Comet demonstrates a significant step forward in web browsing, leveraging AI for intelligent search, content generation, and autonomous operation.

Related: I tested Gemini as an interpreter