OpenAI will stop developing 'Atlas', its AI-powered browser

OpenAI will stop developing Atlas, the browser with artificial intelligence that was launched in October with ChatGPT as the main focus. Instead of continuing with that project, the company will integrate its browsing functions into other products.

The capabilities tested in Atlas will become part of the desktop application of ChatGPT and a new extension for Google Chrome, aiming to maintain the functions of AI-assisted browsing.

What will happen to Atlas

The decision to close Atlas comes just a few months after the executive director of applications at OpenAI, Fidji Simo, called for a reduction in so-called "side projects." This strategy also led to the closure of Sora, the AI video generation tool.

After several months of testing, the company concluded that the browser should function as an integrated feature rather than as an independent product.

How ChatGPT will work within Google Chrome

OpenAI will launch a ChatGPT extension for Google Chrome that will be able to access the context of the page the user is visiting.

The extension will allow users to ask questions about the content of a website, generate summaries, and initiate more complex tasks directly from the browser.

According to the information released, this proposal will directly compete with Google's Gemini Side Panel, which offers similar functions.

The new ChatGPT features for browsing the web

OpenAI will also expand the capabilities of the desktop application of ChatGPT. The tool will incorporate a more comprehensive browser to navigate websites, log into accounts, download files, and interact with pages without leaving the application.

Additionally, the company will use a cloud-based browser that will operate on its servers so that AI agents can perform tasks on behalf of the user.

OpenAI bets on an integrated experience

With these changes, OpenAI aims to unify the experience between Google Chrome, the desktop application of ChatGPT, and its AI agents.

The strategy aims for the assisted browsing functions to be integrated into the tools that users already use, rather than being developed as an independent browser.