OpenAI’s Next Move After ChatGPT: AI Browser Designed to Bypass Google Search and Boost Automation

OpenAI Moves Closer To Browser Launch That Could Threaten Google Chrome’s Stronghold

OpenAI is preparing to launch its own artificial intelligence-powered web browser, with sources revealing it could be released within weeks.

The product, designed to deeply integrate AI into everyday browsing, would mark a strategic expansion for the company behind ChatGPT — and a direct challenge to Google’s dominance in the browser space.

Shifting Browsing From Clicks To Chat

The browser reportedly blends traditional web navigation with a conversational ChatGPT-style interface.

Instead of users clicking through multiple pages, certain queries and tasks will remain within a native AI chat window, reshaping how people interact with information online.

According to two insiders, this interface aims to streamline actions such as booking services or filling forms — without leaving the browser.

By integrating Operator — OpenAI’s in-house AI agent capable of acting on users’ behalf — the browser may eventually carry out complex tasks like making reservations, automating online errands, or navigating websites with minimal input from the user.

Strategic Play For Data And Distribution

The move isn’t just about user experience.

It’s also a bold effort to capture a piece of the data ecosystem currently controlled by Google.

Chrome feeds into Alphabet’s advertising engine by collecting detailed browsing data used to target users more precisely — a key reason it accounts for nearly three-quarters of the company’s revenue.

Sources told Reuters the browser gives OpenAI direct access to similar behavioural data, enabling tighter integration of its AI systems and strengthening its position in both consumer and enterprise markets.

One insider said OpenAI intentionally decided against building a browser plug-in, opting instead for a standalone product to maximise control over data collection and functionality.

Backed By Talent From Google’s Own Ranks

OpenAI’s development of the browser comes after the company hired two senior Google veterans who helped build Chrome in its early days.

Their expertise may prove crucial as the AI company attempts to compete with a product used by over 3 billion people worldwide.

While OpenAI has not commented on the browser publicly, the company’s direction has been increasingly ambitious.

In April 2025, an executive said OpenAI would be interested in acquiring Chrome if antitrust regulators forced Google to divest — though Google has denied any plans to sell and intends to appeal the ruling that declared its monopoly in online search.

Built On Google’s Open-Source Chromium Framework

Technically, OpenAI’s browser will be built on Chromium — the same open-source codebase used by Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Opera.

This foundation gives it access to a widely compatible engine while allowing for heavy AI customisation layered on top.

The browser will enter a crowded but rapidly evolving space.

Perplexity’s new AI browser, Comet, launched just days ago with similar capabilities, and startups like Brave and The Browser Company have also introduced AI-enhanced browsers that summarise content and perform tasks for users.

Can Chrome’s Dominance Be Cracked?

Chrome currently controls more than two-thirds of the global browser market, while Apple’s Safari trails far behind with a 16% share, according to StatCounter.

Even with ChatGPT’s massive 500 million weekly user base and 3 million paying business clients, OpenAI faces an uphill battle to gain ground in a space that Google has dominated for over a decade.

Still, this isn’t the company’s first bold expansion.

Just two months ago, OpenAI acquired AI devices startup io — founded by ex-Apple design chief Jony Ive — in a $6.5 billion deal, signalling intent to stretch beyond software into hardware and services.

What If AI Becomes The Browser?

If OpenAI succeeds in replacing traditional browsing with a seamless, task-completing AI layer, it wouldn’t just challenge Chrome — it could change the nature of the internet itself.

The idea of a browser that “does” rather than “shows” could shift expectations for how we interact with the web.

In a world where AI takes action instead of offering options, control over that experience — and the data that powers it — becomes the next digital frontier.