OpenAI launches ChatGPT Atlas, an AI-powered browser set to rival Google Chrome and Perplexity

OpenAI has officially entered the browser race. The company announced ChatGPT Atlas, a new AI-powered web browser for macOS, setting the stage for a direct showdown with Google Chrome and Perplexity AI.

The launch was teased with a five-second video posted on X showing three browser tabs labeled “Livestream,” “Today,” and “10 a.m. PT.” CEO Sam Altman followed up with a short post saying the new product was something he’s “quite excited about!” The announcement built anticipation across social media ahead of the official unveiling on YouTube.

On its YouTube livestream titled “Introducing ChatGPT Atlas,” OpenAI described the product as its “new browser,” confirming that it’s available globally for macOS users, with Windows, iOS, and Android versions on the way. The move marks OpenAI’s first standalone browser release, expanding its reach beyond the ChatGPT app and API ecosystem.

Earlier this year, the company rolled out Operator, an AI agent that uses a browser to perform online tasks. But unlike Operator, ChatGPT Atlas appears to be a full-fledged browser built around OpenAI’s models, merging search, content understanding, and task automation in one interface.

ChatGPT Atlas shakes up the browser wars — Alphabet stock slides 3%

The timing of the launch immediately sent ripples through the market. Shares of Google parent company Alphabet fell nearly 3% on Tuesday as investors reacted to the prospect of new competition in the browser space—a territory long dominated by Chrome.

OpenAI’s move comes just weeks after Perplexity announced its own AI browser, Comet, which lets users search, organize tabs, draft emails, and even shop online through conversational commands. Google, meanwhile, has been integrating its Gemini model directly into Chrome, allowing users to summarize webpages, work across tabs, or generate meeting notes.

The competition is heating up fast. By launching ChatGPT Atlas, OpenAI isn’t just adding another browser—it’s signaling its intent to make AI the new interface for how people explore and interact with the web.

You can watch the full launch of ChatGPT Atlas on OpenAI’s official YouTube channel below.