OpenAI plans to launch a web browser with artificial intelligence in the “coming weeks,” Reuters reports. Sources said that OpenAI may embed its Operator AI agent in the browser, which will allow it to book reservations, fill out forms, and perform other tasks on behalf of the user as the company moves towards an “agent” future.
As noted by Reuters, the browser will have a native ChatGPT interface, potentially allowing users to interact with the chatbot directly through the browser instead of going to the OpenAI website. It is also reported that OpenAI plans to use Google’s open-source Chromium engine in its browser, which is used in major browsers such as Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Opera.
This week, startup Perplexity also launched a Chromium-based web browser called Comet for its subscribers for $200 per month. The browser uses Perplexity’s search engine by default and comes with a built-in AI assistant. The upcoming OpenAI browser could become another threat to Google, which may be forced to sell Chrome under federal antitrust laws. Both Perplexity and OpenAI have stated that they are considering buying the browser.
This is not the first time we’ve heard about a potential browser from OpenAI. Last year, The Information reported that OpenAI was exploring the possibility of launching a browser and even hired two people who “played an important role” in the launch of Google Chrome. Last year, OpenAI began weaving its search engine into ChatGPT, and building this capability into a browser seems like a logical extension.
