ChatGPT Atlas: The Complete Guide to OpenAI’s Browser

A Chromium-based browser with ChatGPT built in Agent Mode, optional Browser memories, and privacy controls you can actually tune.

The way we browse the web hasn’t fundamentally changed in decades. We open a browser, type in a search bar, and click through a list of blue links. But what if your browser could do the work for you? What if it could understand the content on a page, summarize it, and even take actions like booking a reservation or filling a shopping cart?

OpenAI is betting on this future with its new release: ChatGPT Atlas. It’s not just another browser extension; it’s a complete web browser with a powerful AI at its core.

But what exactly is it, and how is it different from what you use now? In this guide, we will answer the key questions on your mind: What are its standout features? How do you get started on your Mac? Is it private and secure? And ultimately, should you make the switch from Chrome or Edge?

The Key Takeaways

• ChatGPT Atlas is a Chromium-based browser for macOS (Apple silicon, macOS 14.2+) with ChatGPT built in.
• Its Agent Mode (preview) can take actions in your browser (with confirmations) but can’t run code, download files, install extensions, or access other apps/files.
• Your web content doesn’t train models by default; Browser Memories are optional and filtered summaries are deleted within 7 days. Diagnostic logs are separate and on by default (you can turn them off).
• Set Atlas as your default browser to get a temporary 7-day ChatGPT rate-limit boost (Atlas only).

What is ChatGPT Atlas?

At its core, ChatGPT Atlas is a brand-new, standalone web browser created by OpenAI. Think of it not as a simple extension or add-on for your current browser, but as a full, Chromium-based browser. It’s built on the same foundation that powers Google Chrome, so it feels familiar and supports the web technologies you’re used to. However, the key difference is how deeply ChatGPT is integrated into every part of the browsing experience.

Instead of just opening a blank page, the new tab page can answer your questions directly. When you’re on a website, the browser doesn’t just display the content, it understands it. You can ask it to summarize a lengthy article, pull out key points, or even compare products without ever leaving your tab.

It’s designed to be less of a passive window to the internet and more of an active partner in helping you find what you need. Currently, Atlas is available exclusively for macOS and requires an Apple silicon (M-series) Mac. OpenAI has announced that versions for Windows, iOS, and Android are planned for the future.

Getting Started on Your Mac

Getting the ChatGPT Atlas macOS version up and running is a simple process, but first, you need to ensure your computer is ready. Before you proceed, check that your system meets the official ChatGPT Atlas system requirements.

You will need:

• A Mac with Apple silicon (any M-series chip).
• Your operating system must be macOS 14.2 or a later version.

If your machine meets these criteria, you’re ready to learn how to install ChatGPT Atlas on your Mac. Here is the setup checklist:

• Download the .dmg file from the official OpenAI website, drag Atlas to your Applications folder, open it, and sign in.
• During setup, you can import bookmarks, passwords, and history from other browsers (this requires Keychain approval).
• Optional: Make Atlas your default browser. This unlocks a temporary 7-day ChatGPT rate-limit boost (for use in Atlas only).
• After setup, go to Settings → Data controls. Confirm Include web browsing is Off (the default). You may also want to turn Help improve browsing & search Off.
• Learn to use the ChatGPT page visibility toggle in the address bar to block reading and memories on a sensitive, per-site basis.

Setting up these initial privacy controls is a key first step. Once you’re comfortable with the settings, you can begin exploring the powerful, day-to-day features that make Atlas different.

Core Features and Browser Memories

ChatGPT Atlas transforms your daily browsing with intelligent tools integrated directly into the browser. Features like the “Ask ChatGPT” sidebar allow you to instantly summarize a complex article, compare products on a shopping site, or draft a response without switching tabs. Similarly, the inline writing help lets you edit emails, social media posts, or any text in a web form with a simple command, making it a seamless writing assistant.

Here’s a breakdown of the features:

• Ask ChatGPT Sidebar: A constant companion that understands the content of your current page. You can ask it to pull out key data points, explain a difficult concept, or even generate ideas based on what you’re reading.
• Inline Writing Help: In any text field on the web, you can use a keyboard shortcut to rewrite, shorten, or change the tone of your text on the fly.
• Smarter Search: The new tab page starts with an AI answer to your query, but you can easily flip to a traditional list of links, images, or news results.
• ChatGPT page visibility: A button in the address bar lets you instantly block Atlas from reading or creating memories from a specific, sensitive site.
• Browser Memories: An optional feature that lets Atlas remember key facts and insights from the websites you visit to offer more personalized and context-aware help over time.

The concept of ChatGPT Atlas Memories is powerful, but it’s designed with user control in mind. This feature does not save entire copies of web pages. Instead, page contents are summarized server-side; the raw page is deleted immediately, and the filtered summaries are deleted within 7 days. Your privacy is safe.

You can easily view, delete, or archive individual memories. Most importantly, you can disable Browser Memories entirely in the settings, giving you full control over your data.

Unleashing Agent Mode

This is where ChatGPT Atlas moves from being a smart assistant to an active partner. Imagine giving your browser a to-do list and watching it complete the task for you. That’s the promise of ChatGPT Atlas Agent Mode, a groundbreaking preview feature that lets the AI take control of your browser to perform multi-step actions on your behalf.

Learning how to use ChatGPT Atlas Agent Mode is straightforward. You activate it directly from the “Ask ChatGPT” sidebar and then describe your goal in plain language. Instead of just answering a question, Agent Mode will start navigating websites, clicking links, and filling in forms to get the job done, all while explaining its steps in real-time.

You could ask it to handle tasks like:

• “Research flights from Prague to London for next weekend and find the cheapest direct option.”
• “Find the top three reviewed laptops under 1,000 USD and compare their specs in a table.”
• “Order a pizza with pepperoni from my favorite local restaurant for delivery as soon as possible.”

In Agent Mode, ChatGPT can open tabs, click, and fill forms, but it cannot run code, download files, install extensions, or access other apps or your file system. It can run in logged-out mode, and pages it visits aren’t added to your browsing history. Monitor actions and watch for prompt-injection on untrusted sites.

A Deep Dive into Privacy and Security

When an application is designed to see and interact with your web browsing, questions about privacy and security are paramount. Here’s a clear-cut breakdown of how ChatGPT Atlas handles your data and what you need to know to stay safe.

This is the most critical aspect of ChatGPT Atlas privacy: by default, the content of the websites you visit is not used to train OpenAI’s models. You have to explicitly opt-in if you want to contribute your browsing data.

You can manage all of this in the ChatGPT Atlas data controls and privacy settings menu. There, you will find a toggle to “Include web browsing” for model training, which is off by default. A separate option for sharing anonymous diagnostic logs (“Help improve browsing & search”) is on by default, but you can turn this off as well.

This puts you firmly in control of what you share. (OpenAI has also noted that future updates, such as for macOS 26, may allow on-device summarization so page contents are never sent to the server.) In Incognito you’re signed out: chats aren’t saved to your account and no Memories are created. OpenAI retains signed-out chats up to 30 days to detect abuse.

Is Atlas Safe for Business?

For companies wondering is ChatGPT Atlas safe for business, the answer is cautious optimism. The browser is currently in beta for Business users and must be enabled by an administrator for Enterprise accounts. While it offers powerful productivity gains, OpenAI states Atlas is not currently in scope for SOC 2/ISO attestations.

Therefore, it’s recommended that businesses treat Atlas as out-of-scope for highly sensitive or regulated data for the time being. It’s a fantastic tool for general research and productivity, but not yet for handling confidential client information.

General Security Awareness

With any new technology, it’s wise to be aware of potential risks. One such theoretical concern is an AI sidebar spoofing risk, where a malicious website could create a fake pop-up that mimics the real ChatGPT Atlas sidebar to trick you into entering personal information.

The best defense is simple awareness: always ensure you are interacting with the official, built-in browser interface, not an element that is part of the webpage itself. To stay safe, only download ChatGPT Atlas from the official OpenAI website.

Atlas vs. The Competition

ChatGPT Atlas is an exciting new player, but it enters a field where other tech giants are also integrating AI into their browsers. The choice is no longer just about speed or features, but about which AI ecosystem best suits your needs. The ChatGPT Atlas vs. Chrome debate, for instance, highlights the difference between a fully integrated AI browser and an assistant built into an existing one.

To help you understand where Atlas fits, here is a direct ChatGPT Atlas vs. Edge Copilot vs. Chrome Gemini comparison, which also includes a look at its closest rival in the AI-native browser space. This ChatGPT Atlas vs Perplexity Comet comparison is especially important for those looking to switch to a browser built for the AI era.

AI Browsers Compared

Ultimately, your choice depends on your current workflow. If you want a revolutionary tool that can act as a true assistant and are willing to adopt a new browser, Atlas is the most compelling option. However, if you prefer to have AI enhance your existing environment without a major switch, the integrated solutions from Google and Microsoft offer powerful convenience within a familiar package.

Conclusion

ChatGPT Atlas represents more than just a new browser; it’s a bold step toward a more interactive and intelligent web. With powerful features like Agent Mode and deeply integrated AI assistance, it offers a compelling vision of the future where our browsers don’t just show us information, but actively help us use it.

While it is currently limited to macOS and requires users to be thoughtful about its powerful personalization and privacy settings, Atlas is undeniably one of the most exciting developments in browsing technology. Whether it replaces your trusted browser today or not, it has certainly redefined what a browser can be.

FAQ

Is it free?

Atlas is free on macOS for Free/Plus/Pro/Go; Agent Mode is a preview feature for Plus/Pro/Business users.

Does it train on my browsing?

No, not by default. You must manually opt in via the Include web browsing toggle in Data Controls.

Are agent actions saved to history?

No. Pages visited by the agent are not added to your browsing history.

Windows/iOS/Android?

These versions are planned, but the initial launch is for macOS (Apple silicon) only.

Compliance?

OpenAI says Atlas isn’t currently in scope for SOC 2/ISO; it’s best to treat it as out-of-scope for regulated data for now.