OpenAI Is Building a Browser to Kill Chrome—And It Might Actually Work

OpenAI is preparing to launch its own AI-powered web browser, reportedly arriving within weeks. Built on Chromium and tightly integrated with ChatGPT, the browser is designed to compete directly with Google Chrome and reshape how people interact with the web.

This move is about more than user experience. It’s a strategic push to take control of the same data stream that fuels Google’s core business. Chrome, used by over 3 billion people, captures vast amounts of behavioral data—searches, clicks, and browsing patterns—all of which feed into Google’s advertising engine.

OpenAI wants to reroute that stream. With a growing base of over 500 million weekly ChatGPT users, the company is betting that AI-driven browsing—where assistants automate tasks and handle online interactions—can shift user habits and challenge the foundations of Google’s dominance.

What We Know About OpenAI’s Browser

OpenAI is about to release a real product, not a prototype or a side experiment. The browser is expected to launch within weeks, and several reliable reports have already revealed how it works and what it’s aiming to disrupt.

1. Built on Chromium: Just like Chrome, Edge, and Brave, OpenAI’s browser will run on Google’s open-source engine. That means compatibility with all extensions and web standards is baked in.
2. AI at the Core: The browser will feature ChatGPT as a built-in assistant—not just for search, but for tasks like filling out forms, booking flights, summarizing pages, and even making purchases.
3. Agentic Capabilities: OpenAI’s “Operator” agent is reportedly integrated. This means the browser may handle entire workflows autonomously—like reserving hotels or ordering products—without you having to do much more than give a goal.
4. Strategic Hires: OpenAI recently brought in ex-Google executives who helped build Chrome. They’re not just building a browser—they’re aiming to dethrone the king.
5. Data Control: According to Reuters, one of the key reasons OpenAI is building its own browser (instead of integrating ChatGPT into existing ones) is to get direct access to user data—fuel for better AI models and targeted monetization.

Each of these decisions points to a larger goal: changing how people interact with the web, and claiming a slice of the infrastructure that defines the internet’s daily use.

The AI Browsers Are The Hottest Tech of 2025

OpenAI may be the biggest name entering the space, but it’s far from the first. A new generation of browsers is emerging—built not just to display web pages, but to understand intent, automate tasks, and assist users in real time.

And the competition is heating up fast.

Comet by Perplexity

Last week, we’re informed about Perplexity launching its own AI browser called Comet, a Chromium-based interface with a built-in chatbot and agentic capabilities. Users can ask questions, generate summaries, and automate workflows within the browser itself. However, access is currently limited to subscribers of Perplexity Pro, which costs $200 per month—making it more of a premium experiment than a mass-market tool for now.

Dia by The Browser Company

The team behind Arc has introduced a new project called Dia, pitched as an AI-native browser built from scratch for the modern internet. Unlike traditional tab-based experiences, Dia treats each open page as part of a broader task or memory unit. Its assistant doesn’t just summarize content—it understands workflows and adapts to the user’s behavior. You can read more about Dia on The Browser Company’s blog.

Opera Neon

In May 2025, Opera launched Neon, which it describes as the first fully “agentic” browser. It’s built to act on user intent—not just assist with content. Neon can autonomously complete multi-step tasks like purchasing products, booking trips, or submitting forms. Unlike traditional browsers, part of its intelligence runs in the cloud, blending local browsing with cloud-based AI execution.

Brave with AI Features

Brave is gradually integrating AI tools into its privacy-first browser, including summarization and contextual assistance. While not marketed as a full AI-native product, the team is actively adding features that mirror what competitors are offering—without compromising on its core promise of user privacy. You can follow updates on Brave’s official site.

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That said, none of these browsers operate at the scale OpenAI brings to the table. With over 500 million people using ChatGPT each week and a globally recognized brand, OpenAI has a rare advantage: reach. It doesn’t need to build an audience from scratch. It just needs to flip the switch.

History shows that distribution often beats innovation. Chrome overtook Internet Explorer not because of any single killer feature, but because it was faster, more polished, and tightly integrated into Google’s ecosystem. OpenAI could now follow the same path—this time using AI to drive the shift.

Still, wide adoption won’t come automatically. Success will depend on execution, not headlines. The browser that wins won’t just offer smarter tools—it has to feel better to use, every single day.

Why Is Everybody Building the AI Browser

There’s a reason everyone—from OpenAI to Perplexity to Opera—is suddenly obsessed with browsers. It’s not about page speed or better bookmarks. It’s about owning the layer between human intent and digital action.

For years, browsers have been the invisible middlemen—passively showing users the web while quietly feeding Google’s ad machine with behavioral data. But AI changes that.

When an assistant can summarize pages, fill out forms, book services, and even act on your behalf, the old way of “browsing” starts to look outdated. AI-native browsers flip the model: you say what you want, and the AI gets it done. Here’s why the race is on:

• Search disruption: If AI gives you answers instantly and handles tasks, the traditional search engine becomes irrelevant.
• Publishers get cut out: When the browser summarizes content, users never visit the original site. Traffic drops. Ad revenue collapses.
• The ad economy breaks: Fewer clicks, less tracking, and opaque intent signals make it harder to target or measure ads.
• The UX gets rewritten: No more typing URLs or managing tabs. AI assistants understand context, remember goals, and quietly get things done.

Final Words

OpenAI is getting ready to launch something much bigger than just a new browser. This is a direct move against Google Chrome, which has shaped how we access the internet for more than a decade. But now, AI is changing the rules. With tools like ChatGPT and its built-in assistant Operator, OpenAI wants to take over the way people interact with the web—and collect the data that comes with it.

Other companies are paying attention. Perplexity, Opera, Brave, and The Browser Company are all working on their own versions of smart, AI-powered browsers. They all see the same thing: the browser is no longer just a window to the internet. It’s becoming a control center—where decisions are made, tasks are handled, and data flows.

This isn’t just about search or speed anymore. It’s about who owns the interface between users and the web. Whoever gets it right will control not only how we browse, but also how ads are shown, how content is discovered, and how money moves online.

The AI browser war has officially started. And the outcome could reshape the entire internet.