OpenAI (OPENAI) launched its artificial intelligence-powered web browser, ChatGPT Atlas, in a direct challenge to search giant Google (NASDAQ:GOOG)(NASDAQ:GOOGL) and fellow startups such as Perplexity.
Google shares had slipped 2% by early afternoon trading on Tuesday.
OpenAI has built an “Agent mode” directly into Atlas. This allows the agent to take actions for the user, such as making purchases and reservations, while the user continues to browse. In an example, the agent completes an order for recipe ingredients through Instacart while the user continues to search the web.
“I can pick Agent mode from the sidebar, and it can take actions on my behalf,” said OpenAI engineer Will Ellsworth. “It has access to all my history. It is using the internet for me. It can take over tasks for me while I do something else.”
Similar to other browsers, it has a query bar in the center of the page. You can search the web based on standard filters such as images, news, etc. It features an Ask ChatGPT option located in the top right corner of the browser. It also has a “suggestions” feature beneath the query bar, which evolves based on user activity. Most of these features can be turned on and off depending on preferences.
Atlas is available today for Apple’s (AAPL) macOS. It will be available soon for Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) Windows, Apple iOS and Google Android.
“This is going live today for macOS worldwide,” said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. “We will bring this to mobile devices as soon as possible. We are just getting started, and there are many additional tools and features we will add to this.”
Google has already integrated its AI assistant Gemini into Chrome, while Perplexity has released the AI browser Comet. Perplexity recently began allowing free usage of its browser after initially charging a $200 monthly subscription fee.