OpenAI on Tuesday unveiled ChatGPT Atlas, a new web browser built around its popular AI chatbot, positioning itself as a direct rival to Google Chrome. The company says the browser aims to make online browsing, searching, and task management more conversational, faster, and personalised.

What is ChatGPT Atlas?

ChatGPT Atlas embeds the AI assistant directly into the browser, allowing users to interact with ChatGPT on any webpage without switching tabs or copy-pasting. OpenAI describes it as a "super-assistant" designed to help users complete tasks, find information, and manage online activities efficiently. The new-tab page doubles as both a chat window and a traditional search bar, enabling users to access AI-generated answers alongside standard search results.

Atlas is now available worldwide on macOS for Free, Plus, Pro, and Go users, with a beta version for Business users. Enterprise and Edu users can access it if enabled by their plan administrator. Versions for Windows, iOS, and Android are expected to arrive soon.

How to install ChatGPT Atlas on macOS

  • Visit chatgpt.com/atlas and click Download for macOS.
  • Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag the ChatGPT Atlas icon into your Applications folder.
  • Launch Atlas from Applications or use Spotlight search.
  • Log in with an existing ChatGPT account or create a new one.
  • Import bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history from your current browser during setup.

Key features

  • Built-in memory: Atlas can remember past interactions and browsing context. Users can ask follow-up questions like, “Summarise the job postings I checked last week,” without re-entering links. Memory is optional and fully controllable; users can view, archive, or delete data anytime.
  • Agent mode: In preview for Plus, Pro, and Business users, this feature allows ChatGPT to act on the user’s behalf—researching, analysing, automating tasks, planning events, booking reservations, and even interacting with services like Instacart. Product lead Adam Fry said, Atlas can now “book reservations or flights or even edit a document that you’re working on.”
  • Cursor chat: Users can highlight text on any webpage—emails, documents, or articles—and ask ChatGPT to rewrite or refine it instantly.
  • Seamless setup: Atlas allows easy import of bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history from other browsers.

Safety and privacy

OpenAI has implemented safeguards to prevent misuse. ChatGPT cannot run code, download files, or access other apps on the user’s computer. Agent Mode can also be run in a “logged-out” state to limit access to sensitive sites. Browsing content will not be used for model training unless users explicitly opt in.

Setting Atlas as default browser

To make Atlas the default:

  • Open ChatGPT Atlas.
  • Go to Settings > General > Set default > Use Atlas.
  • Or navigate to System Settings > Desktop & Dock > Default web browser and select ChatGPT Atlas.

A step toward conversational browsing

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman described Atlas as a step toward a new way of using the internet, where chat becomes a natural part of web navigation. By merging traditional browsing with AI interaction, Atlas aims to offer a personalised, efficient, and interactive online experience.

“The way that we hope people will use the internet in the future… the chat experience in a web browser can be a great analogue,” he said.

(With input from IANS)