The competition between Google and OpenAI has stood out as one of the most intriguing narratives in the technology sector in recent years, and if the latest information is credible, it’s set to escalate further. As reported by Reuters, OpenAI intends to unveil an AI-driven web browser in the near future to rival Google’s Chrome.
The details surrounding the browser are sparse, but it mentions that certain interactions will take place within a ChatGPT-like framework that doesn’t send users to external sites. It’s not surprising that OpenAI aims to keep users within its ecosystem, although that doesn’t align with how many people currently use their web browsers.
That being said, the browser is expected to appear and function quite similarly, as it’s supposedly constructed on Chromium, which serves as the underlying codebase for Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Opera, and various others.
According to sources cited by Reuters, the browser is part of the organization’s long-term vision to weave its services into both the professional and personal domains of its users. For example, OpenAI might directly incorporate its Operator agent into the browser, enabling it to execute tasks independently after receiving directives. Picture instructing your browser to locate the best Prime Day deals for a new lawn mower or to gather pertinent sources for a research assignment.
More crucially, operating its own browser provides OpenAI with access to the same continuous, invaluable flow of user data that Google and its parent corporation Alphabet acquire through Chrome. The significance of Chrome to Google’s advertising operations cannot be overstated, as it supplies the company with information on over 3 billion users globally.
This represents a revenue stream that is simply too appealing for OpenAI to overlook. Additionally, if a significant portion of the 400 million ChatGPT users transitions to OpenAI’s browser, it could swiftly rank among the three or four largest web browsers worldwide.
Interestingly, Nick Turley, the product head for ChatGPT, recently informed the courts that OpenAI would likely consider acquiring Chrome if Google had to divest it. He pointed out that OpenAI could integrate ChatGPT directly within Chrome. Would the company still pursue this acquisition if its own AI browser succeeds this year?
