Key facts
- OpenAI is discontinuing its AI-powered browser, Atlas.
- Features tested in Atlas will be integrated into ChatGPT's desktop app.
- A new ChatGPT Chrome extension will allow users to interact with webpages.
- The company previously cut back on "side quests," leading to the shutdown of Sora.
- OpenAI aims to embed AI browsing capabilities into existing user workflows.
OpenAI is discontinuing its AI-powered browser, Atlas, which was launched in October with ChatGPT at its core. The company is shifting its strategy from a standalone browser to integrating AI browsing functionalities into existing platforms. Some of Atlas's agentic browsing features will be incorporated into ChatGPT's desktop application and a new Google Chrome extension.
This decision follows a broader trend within OpenAI to focus on core products, as indicated by CEO of applications Fidji Simo's directive to cut back on "side quests," which also led to the shutdown of the AI video generation tool Sora. The AI industry has seen a surge in efforts to challenge Chrome's dominance, with competitors like Perplexity and The Browser Company launching their own browser initiatives.
OpenAI's new Chrome extension will grant ChatGPT context of the viewed page, enabling users to ask questions, summarize content, and initiate longer tasks directly from the browser, positioning it as a competitor to Google's Gemini Side Panel. The enhanced ChatGPT desktop app will feature a more robust browser for website interaction, account logins, and file downloads, operating via a remote cloud browser on OpenAI's servers. These updates aim to transform ChatGPT into a comprehensive workspace across Chrome, the desktop app, and AI agents.