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OpenAI plans to debut its first web browser in the coming weeks in a direct challenge to Google Chrome, according to Reuters.
Rumors that the ChatGPT-maker was working on a browser first surfaced in November 2024. The product aims to change how users find information online, possibly using OpenAI's AI agent called Operator.
Operator performs actions on behalf of the user, especially "repetitive browser tasks such as filling out forms, ordering groceries, and even creating memes," OpenAI says. It first launched in January and is only available with a ChatGPT Pro subscription ($200-per-month). Integrating Operator could make surfing the web easier and more productive, but it remains to be seen if OpenAI will charge access to the browser.
Also today, Perplexity AI debuted its first web browser, called Comet. The browser stands out by featuring a chat interface that can automate certain tasks for the user.
For example, a user can ask to it to send an email, book a hotel, or buy a product. In the promotional video below, Comet plans a route on Google Maps based on a text prompt. It also takes requests via voice. On the downside, like ChatGPT Pro, Comet costs $200-per-month through the Perplexity Max plan.
Perplexity's Comet is built on Chromium, and sources say OpenAI's browser will be, too. Chromium is Google's open-source browser code, and the engine behind other competitive browsers such as Microsoft Edge and Opera.
"We’re always glad to welcome another browser to the Chromium community," a Google spokesperson tells us. "Chromium is an open source project that we make freely available and that supports many browsers and web products, and we're excited to see what contributions new browser vendors make."
It would be a tall task for OpenAI or Perplexity to overtake Google Chrome, which is the most popular browser with nearly 70% of worldwide market share. However, ChatGPT's estimated 400 million daily active users could help OpenAI's rumored browser cut into Chrome's traffic. Perplexity is also growing rapidly with 20% growth month-over-month, TechCrunch reports.
By having their own browsers, Perplexity and OpenAI can also gain access to more user data — all the while taking traffic away from Google, which relies on search ads for revenue.
Google is well aware that ChatGPT, and chatbots in general, threaten its business. The search giant issued an internal "code red" when the chatbot launched in November 2022, and promptly released its own chatbot in February 2023, which first arrived as Bard before being renamed to Gemini. However, ChatGPT has remained the most popular chatbot. Perhaps in response, Google has pivoted its strategy to AI Overviews on the main search results page. That said, the company's AI-powered search results don't always provide accurate answers.
OpenAI in April said it would consider purchasing Chrome if the Department of Justice forces Google to sell it as part of an antitrust case, Ars Technica reports. Yahoo later said it would also consider buying Chrome if it was up for sale.
Disclosure: Ziff Davis, PCMag's parent company, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.