Can the rumored browser of OpenAI become the "terminator" of Chrome?

Soon, perhaps as early as next week, OpenAI will launch its AI-powered web browser after ChatGPT Agent.

Officially, neither OpenAI nor its usually talkative CEO, Altman, has made any comments about this browser. However, unofficial sources indicate that it's an open secret: the company is developing a browser that not only aims to compete with the already launched AI browsers Perplexity Comet and Dia but also challenges the "giant" in the web browser field, Google Chrome.

Why launch a browser? Just look at ChatGPT Agent.

Although it has common AI Agent functions, such as ordering groceries or scheduling meetings, it is still an external program that needs to run on an independent device through a "visual browser for web interaction" to "handle complex tasks from start to finish." It relies on Operator's web interaction capabilities, Deep Research's information integration capabilities, and ChatGPT's intelligence and smooth conversation to provide high-quality answers.

As Altman said at a Sequoia Capital event in May 2025, people of different ages use ChatGPT in different ways: "Older people use ChatGPT as a substitute for Google," "People in their 20s and 30s see it as a life advisor," and "College students regard it as an operating system." No matter if you're from the Baby Boomer generation, Generation X, Millennials, or Generation Alpha, a browser is essential to achieve these uses.

Therefore, it's reasonable for OpenAI to launch its own web browser. Nowadays, most of our work relies on web browsers. How many tabs do you have open now? Would you rather open another independent program or stay in the browser? Right, I'd also prefer to stay in the browser.

01.

Expectations for OpenAI's AI Browser

Therefore, I speculate that this browser will be a Chromium-based web browser because almost all manufacturers, except Mozilla, are using this framework and will have a full-featured AI assistant built-in. It will integrate all the functions of the existing assistant with complete browser integration capabilities. For example, like Comet has already achieved, it can extract data from the tabs you have open to provide more accurate responses to your requests.

Moreover, since Chromium is already the de facto industry standard, OpenAI doesn't need to re-develop the basic browser functions and can more easily support existing websites, extensions, and web applications. This way, developers can focus on integrating advanced AI functions.

According to early reports and beta release information revealed by developers, the browser can generate article, video, and PDF summaries based on the existing capabilities of GPT - 4o and support image, voice, and file interaction.

In addition, besides traditional autofill, it can also intelligently complete form filling and task scheduling based on user intent. For example, if I use different email addresses for work and personal matters, theoretically, it will know to use my work email to book Delta Airlines and Marriott Hotel and my personal email to handle Amazon orders.

By having this browser, OpenAI can not only obtain users' questions but also almost all user behaviors and data. Historically, this has always been the core of Google's business model, and OpenAI and all other AI companies undoubtedly also desire this key resource.

In turn, this means that the more user data OpenAI obtains, the less data will flow to Google or other third - parties. From Altman's perspective, it's a win - win situation.

02.

The Competitive Landscape of the AI Browser Market

Regarding its AI browser competitors, OpenAI's strategy seems to be to embed AI as a user's "digital agent." Ideally, users can complete all their work and entertainment within OpenAI's ecosystem from morning till night.

On the other hand, Perplexity's Comet takes a more traditional approach. It is a browser for in - depth researchers and professionals, focusing on summary generation, context understanding, source citation, and cross - tab automation, replacing traditional search with Perplexity's own Q&A engine.

Dia is a browser rebuilt from the ground up, with AI as the default interaction mode. It promises to create a "workspace operating system" where AI will actively manage workflows, record conversation histories, recommend next steps, and understand user intent based on context. When using Dia, you're more like letting it lead you to your goals and answers rather than simply browsing.

Don't forget that Google has also entered the game. Google's strategy is gradual but ambitious. It has embedded conversational AI into daily browsing while avoiding sudden and disruptive changes.

For example, Gemini in Chrome has directly integrated conversational AI into the browser interface. If you subscribe to Google's AI Pro plan ($20 per month) or AI Ultra plan ($250 per month), you can directly call Gemini on the current web page.

However, Google is unlikely to deeply integrate AI into the browser like other companies. The reason is that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is still pushing Google to spin off Chrome, and deep AI integration would only be disadvantageous to it. In fact, OpenAI might even eventually acquire Chrome.

Of course, Microsoft has made a more thorough investment in AI in its programs. Microsoft Edge has now become a browser with native Copilot integration. Users can access Copilot with one click through the sidebar or call it by typing @copilot in the address bar, turning the browser into a real - time AI assistant that can answer questions, summarize page content, and assist with creative tasks without leaving the current tab.

As is well - known, AI is now deeply integrated into Windows 11. Microsoft started implanting AI into Windows in 2023, and now Copilot has become an indispensable part of Windows. With Copilot Vision in Windows 10 and 11, it can "view" all the content on your screen in real - time to assist with work.

It should be added that if you use any of the above programs, there's little hope for your privacy.

Anyway, which browser is the most suitable for you? Personally, I prefer Perplexity and Comet, but it's still too early to draw a conclusion. AI programs are updating at an extremely fast pace, almost making it hard to keep up. Currently, I won't be tied to any one of them, but I'll give them a try. You'll probably be using one of them soon.

The original source is from:

1.https://www.zdnet.com/article/could-openais-rumored-browser-be-a-chrome-killer-heres-what-im-expecting/

This article is from the WeChat official account "MetaverseHub", author: MetaverseHub. It is published by 36Kr with authorization.