OpenAI to Launch AI-Powered Web Browser, Challenging Google Chrome’s Dominance

OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, is poised to disrupt the web browser market with the imminent release of an AI-powered browser designed to rival Alphabet’s Google Chrome, according to a Reuters report citing three sources familiar with the matter. The browser, expected to launch in the coming weeks, aims to redefine how users interact with the internet by leveraging artificial intelligence to streamline browsing and integrate advanced functionalities.

The new browser will feature a ChatGPT-like native chat interface, allowing users to perform tasks such as booking reservations or filling out forms directly within the browser, reducing the need to navigate external websites. This AI-driven approach is part of OpenAI’s broader strategy to embed its services into consumers’ personal and professional lives, one source told Reuters. The browser may also incorporate OpenAI’s forthcoming AI agent, Operator, enabling it to execute tasks autonomously on behalf of users.

With Google Chrome commanding two-thirds of the global browser market—used by more than 3 billion people, per StatCounter—OpenAI faces a formidable challenge. Chrome’s dominance is a key pillar of Alphabet’s advertising business, which accounts for nearly three-quarters of its revenue, as it provides valuable user data for targeted ads and funnels traffic to Google’s search engine. If adopted by ChatGPT’s estimated 400 million weekly active users, OpenAI’s browser could pressure this critical component of Google’s ecosystem.

OpenAI’s browser is built on Chromium, Google’s open-source browser code, which also underpins Microsoft Edge and Opera. The company has bolstered its expertise by hiring two former Google vice presidents who were instrumental in Chrome’s original development, signaling its serious intent to compete. This move follows earlier speculation reported by The Information in 2024 that OpenAI was considering a browser project.

The launch comes at a time of heightened scrutiny for Google, with the U.S. Department of Justice demanding Chrome’s divestiture after a 2024 ruling that Alphabet holds an unlawful monopoly in online search. OpenAI’s browser could capitalize on this regulatory pressure, offering an alternative that prioritizes AI-driven user experiences over traditional browsing. An OpenAI executive previously testified in April that the company would be interested in acquiring Chrome if forced to be sold, though Google has stated it will appeal the monopoly ruling.

OpenAI’s entry into the browser market follows similar moves by other AI startups. Perplexity AI launched its AI-powered browser, Comet, on July 9, 2025, while The Browser Company and Brave have also introduced browsers with AI capabilities. These developments signal a growing trend of AI integration in browsing, challenging established players like Google and Apple’s Safari, which holds a distant second place with a 16% market share.

By building a standalone browser rather than a plug-in, OpenAI aims to maintain greater control over user data and its AI ecosystem, a source told Reuters. This strategic move could provide OpenAI with direct access to user behavior insights, a cornerstone of Google’s success, while offering a novel browsing experience tailored to the AI era.

OpenAI declined to comment on the browser’s development. As the company, led by CEO Sam Altman, continues to expand beyond its AI chatbot roots—evidenced by its $6.5 billion acquisition of Jony Ive’s AI hardware startup, io, in May 2025—this browser launch marks a bold step in its mission to reshape technology’s role in everyday life.