OpenAI to launch AI-powered browser, challenging Google Chrome with conversational web experience

OpenAI, the company behind the widely popular ChatGPT, is reportedly gearing up to launch its own AI-powered web browser, a bold move that could disrupt the internet browsing landscape long dominated by Google Chrome.

According to a detailed report by Reuters on Wednesday, July 9, the new browser will feature deep integration with OpenAI’s conversational AI capabilities, potentially transforming how users interact with the web.

Unlike traditional browsers that rely on search bars, tabs, and manual URL entry, OpenAI’s upcoming product will be built around a conversational interface, much like ChatGPT itself.

Instead of navigating menus or clicking through links, users will engage directly with an embedded AI capable of understanding complex prompts and performing multi-step tasks. From searching for recipes to booking hotel rooms, all actions will take place within a single, chat-based interface.

Built on Google’s open-source Chromium platform—the same foundation used by Chrome and Microsoft Edge—the browser will support modern web standards while delivering a radically different user experience. At its core will be “Operator,” OpenAI’s AI agent designed to complete real-world tasks on behalf of users.

Whether it's filling out forms, organising research, or summarising web pages, Operator is intended to act as a proactive digital assistant.

The launch could pose the first serious challenge to Google Chrome’s dominance in over a decade. Chrome currently holds more than 60 per cent of the global browser market, thanks in large part to its tight integration with Google Search, Gmail, YouTube, and other services.

However, OpenAI—backed by Microsoft—is betting that users are ready to move beyond traditional point-and-click interfaces in favour of natural, language-based interactions.

A shift in web economics?

Reuters notes that if OpenAI manages to transition even a small portion of its massive user base—reportedly over 500 million weekly ChatGPT users—to its own browser, it could significantly impact data flows and reshape online advertising dynamics.

Google earns over 75 per cent of its revenue through advertising, much of it driven by user behaviour data collected via Chrome.

With its own browser, OpenAI would gain direct control of that data pipeline, which could be used to improve its AI models and create new monetisation strategies through premium services or partnerships.

Smarter searching, stronger privacy

Although built on Chromium, OpenAI’s browser is expected to include robust privacy features.

Rather than harvesting data for ads, the browser will reportedly store personalisation settings and AI context locally, similar to the on-device performance enhancements offered by GPT-4o in OpenAI’s mobile apps.

Sources also reveal that OpenAI is testing a “privacy sandbox,” allowing users to control what kind of data the AI can access during each session. This includes browsing history, saved forms, and previous chat context.

OpenAI won’t be the first to explore an AI-first browser. Competitors such as Perplexity, Brave, and The Browser Company have already introduced AI-enhanced tools that blend chat interfaces with web navigation.

However, none of them match OpenAI’s user base, resources, or global visibility.

According to Reuters, the browser is currently in its final development stages and could launch “in the coming weeks.”

It remains unclear whether OpenAI will release the browser as a desktop-first platform, mobile app, or both, but one thing is certain: a new era of conversational web browsing may be just around the corner.