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OpenAI set to launch AI-powered browser to rival Google Chrome

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OpenAI is reportedly preparing to release a new AI-powered web browser in the coming weeks that aims to challenge Google Chrome’s dominance, according to sources familiar with the matter. The browser will leverage artificial intelligence to transform the way users interact with the web, potentially offering a more integrated experience that keeps some browsing activities within a ChatGPT-style chat interface rather than directing users to external websites.

This move marks a strategic push by OpenAI to gain direct access to user data—an essential asset for competing with Google, whose Chrome browser is a critical component of Alphabet’s advertising business, generating nearly 75% of its revenue. By controlling browsing data, OpenAI could directly rival Google in targeted advertising and user engagement.

With over 500 million weekly active ChatGPT users, OpenAI’s browser has the potential to significantly disrupt Google’s advertising ecosystem. The browser will be built on Chromium, the open-source codebase behind Chrome and other browsers like Microsoft Edge and Opera, allowing OpenAI to control data collection and integration more effectively.

The new browser is also designed to integrate OpenAI’s AI agent tools, such as Operator, enabling automated actions on behalf of users, including booking reservations or filling forms within websites—enhancing convenience and utility.

OpenAI’s founder Sam Altman, who has driven the company’s rapid innovation since ChatGPT’s launch in 2022, is betting on this browser as part of a broader strategy to embed AI deeper into daily personal and work life.

Competition is fierce: Google Chrome currently commands over two-thirds of the global browser market with more than 3 billion users, while Apple’s Safari holds a distant second place with 16%. Other AI-driven browsers like Comet by Perplexity, The Browser Company, and Brave have already launched AI-enhanced browsing experiences.

The Department of Justice’s ongoing antitrust actions against Google—following a ruling that Alphabet holds a monopoly in online search—highlight the regulatory challenges facing the search and browser giant. OpenAI has even expressed interest in acquiring Chrome if forced divestiture occurs.

Unlike merely creating a plug-in for existing browsers, OpenAI’s decision to build its own browser aims to maximize control over user data, a crucial factor for AI’s effectiveness and business value.

OpenAI declined to comment on the launch details.

Google fails to resolve EU antitrust dispute over search result bias

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Google said it has been unable to resolve disagreements with major travel and search service providers — including Skyscanner and Booking.com — over how it presents search results, leaving the company exposed to a potential European Union antitrust fine. The disclosure follows a two-day workshop (July 7–8) hosted by the European Commission, where Google presented its latest proposals to address long-standing allegations that it favors its own services like Google Flights, Hotels, and Shopping over rivals.

Under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to curb the dominance of “gatekeeper” platforms, violations can trigger fines of up to 10% of global annual revenue — a serious threat for Alphabet, Google’s parent company.

At the workshop, Google offered two new options: Both would give vertical search competitors (like Skyscanner, Kelkoo, and Booking.com) a box at the top of the results page, while listings for individual providers such as airlines, hotels, and restaurants would appear underneath. However, critics argue the proposals still tilt in Google’s favor.

Skyscanner CEO Bryan Batista said the latest suggestions risk “misleading consumers and cementing Google’s position” in organic search. Meanwhile, lawyer Thomas Hoppner — who represents complainants against Google — criticized the company for deflecting blame onto tensions between intermediaries and direct service providers instead of addressing its own alleged self-preferencing behavior.

Google’s Director of Competition, Oliver Bethell, acknowledged the conflict in a LinkedIn blog post, saying: “Competing interests continue to pull us in different directions.” He added that while feedback was welcomed, it’s time to conclude the debate, emphasizing that Google must act in the interest of broader users, not just a few commercial parties.

The European Commission is expected to make a final judgment on Google’s compliance in the coming months. Should regulators find the company in breach, it could trigger one of the most significant enforcement actions yet under the DMA.

DOJ Pushes for Google to Divest Chrome to Restore Search Competition

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Key Developments

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has proposed a series of sweeping measures to curb Google’s dominance in online search and advertising. These proposals, outlined in a Washington court filing, are part of a landmark antitrust case aimed at dismantling what prosecutors describe as an illegal monopoly in search, where Google controls 90% of the U.S. market.

The DOJ’s recommendations include:

  • Divesting Chrome: Google would be required to sell its popular web browser, which is a critical component of its ad-targeting ecosystem.
  • Ending exclusive agreements: The DOJ seeks to eliminate deals where Google pays billions annually to device makers, like Apple, to secure default search engine placement.
  • Potential Android sale: If other remedies fail, Google may have to divest its Android mobile operating system, which prosecutors claim has been used to cement its search dominance.

These measures would remain in place for up to a decade, monitored by a court-appointed technical committee.

Government Overreach or Necessary Reform?

Google has called the DOJ’s proposals “staggering,” with Alphabet Chief Legal Officer Kent Walker warning they could harm consumers, developers, and small businesses while jeopardizing U.S. global technological leadership.

The company argues that divesting Chrome and Android—both built on open-source platforms—would disrupt businesses that rely on these technologies to innovate. Furthermore, Google maintains that its search and AI products benefit users and companies alike.

Proposals for Data and Competition

Prosecutors aim to level the playing field through additional measures:

  • Data Sharing: Google would be required to license search results and share user data with competitors, including privacy-compliant data it currently cannot share.
  • AI Product Training: Publishers and websites could opt out of contributing data to train Google’s AI tools.
  • Restrictions on Acquisitions: Google would be barred from acquiring search, query-based AI, or advertising technology competitors.

These remedies are designed to dismantle what the DOJ describes as a “feedback loop” that entrenches Google’s market position through user data, search dominance, and advertising revenue.

Technical Oversight

A proposed five-member technical committee, funded by Google, would enforce compliance. The committee would have authority to access documents, interview employees, and review software code to ensure adherence to the court’s rulings.

Impact on Chrome and Android

Chrome, the world’s most popular web browser, and Android, a widely used mobile operating system, have been pivotal in Google’s strategy to prioritize its own search engine and products. Prosecutors claim these platforms have hindered competition, citing complaints from rivals like DuckDuckGo.

Google contends that forcing divestitures would harm innovation and argues that both platforms’ open-source nature has supported the development of competing products.

Next Steps

The DOJ trial for these proposals is scheduled for April 2024, with Google presenting its counterproposals in December 2023. The outcome of this case could reshape the online search landscape and influence regulatory approaches to Big Tech in the U.S. and globally.