OpenAI to Launch AI Browser: A Direct Challenge to Google Chrome’s Dominance

OpenAI is reportedly preparing to launch its own artificial intelligence-powered web browser in the coming weeks, according to three sources familiar with the matter cited by Reuters.

This new browser has the potential to seriously unsettle Google’s dominance—especially given that ChatGPT already attracts 500 million weekly users. Should a significant portion of this user base migrate to OpenAI’s browser, it could deal a substantial blow to Google’s advertising business, which currently accounts for nearly three-quarters of parent company Alphabet’s revenue.

Chrome currently reigns supreme in the browser market, boasting over 3 billion users worldwide—roughly two-thirds of the global share. Apple’s Safari trails far behind in second place, with a modest 16 percent.

The hallmark of OpenAI’s forthcoming browser is its deeply integrated ChatGPT interface, designed to keep users within its ecosystem rather than directing them to external websites. Imagine querying the AI not just for links, but for actions—it could book a table at a restaurant or complete online forms on your behalf.

This innovation is part of OpenAI’s broader vision to embed itself into every facet of users’ lives, from professional workflows to personal tasks. In May, the company acquired the startup io for $6.5 billion, a strategic move aimed at developing AI-powered devices in collaboration with former Apple designer Jony Ive.

Intriguingly, the new browser will be built on Chromium—the same open-source foundation that powers Google Chrome. In essence, Google is unwittingly enabling its own rivals. Chromium also underpins browsers like Microsoft Edge and Opera.

Last year, OpenAI successfully poached two former Google vice presidents who had helped architect the original Chrome browser. With intimate knowledge of Chrome’s internal workings, they are well-positioned to exploit its vulnerabilities. One OpenAI executive even remarked in April that the company would consider buying Chrome if regulators forced Google to divest it.

This follows a U.S. court ruling declaring Google a monopoly in the search market. The Department of Justice has called for the sale of Chrome, though Google plans to appeal the decision.

OpenAI faces stiff competition in this escalating race. Just recently, Perplexity launched its own AI-driven browser, Comet, which similarly acts on behalf of users. Other startups, such as The Browser Company and Brave, have also released AI-infused browsers.

Ultimately, OpenAI’s primary ambition is clear: to gain comprehensive control over user data. That objective is precisely why the company has opted to develop its own browser from the ground up, rather than simply embedding a plugin into an existing platform. These data streams will fuel the next generation of AI agents—intelligent tools capable of navigating the web and executing tasks entirely on the user’s behalf.