Introduction to Atlas Browser
OpenAI is launching an artificial intelligence-based website browser, intensifying the company’s competition with Google, the Alphabet-owned unit that has long dominated online search. The new browser, called ChatGPT Atlas, is initially only available on Apple laptops running the company’s Mac operating system. Access will soon be expanded to Apple’s iOS, Microsoft Windows, and Google’s Android platforms.
What the Atlas Browser can do
Like other search engines, Atlas has a homepage with a search bar where people can ask questions, similar to Google’s landing page. Users can also switch through different tabs at the top of the browser to find news, images, and other content. However, according to OpenAI, the browser stands out for a few features. One of them is a ChatGPT sidebar that users can activate by clicking the “Ask ChatGPT” button in the top right corner of the browser.
Unique Features of Atlas
The technology works like ChatGPT, but takes into account which website people are on. In practice, this means that users can ask questions about the content they are watching. Users can also access the ChatGPT function when composing emails. Atlas also features an “agent mode” that can take action on a person’s behalf, armed with insights from users’ browsing history and what they are searching for. The agent can also help people complete a range of tasks, such as booking a flight, editing a document, or ordering groceries.
Competition to Google
Whether Atlas will undermine Google’s dominance in web surfing and searching remains to be seen. Google is expected to generate $220 billion in search revenue this fiscal year alone. But OpenAI is a potentially formidable competitor, with ChatGPT having more than 800 million users. Google’s Chrome browser has around 3 billion users worldwide and has added some AI features based on the company’s Gemini AI technology.
Future of Web Browsing
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, described Atlas as an AI-powered web browser based on ChatGPT that allows people to converse with websites. He expressed confidence that a chatbot interface will eventually replace the URL bar of a traditional browser. According to Altman, the goal of Atlas is to make the internet work for users, by providing a more intuitive and interactive browsing experience.
