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Tech giants are ramping up their competition in artificial intelligence as a new wave of AI-powered web browsers threatens to disrupt Google Chrome’s dominance in online search. OpenAI this week unveiled Atlas, an AI-driven browser built around ChatGPT, which can autonomously browse the web and perform complex tasks such as generating shopping lists or planning events.
The move positions OpenAI alongside competitors such as Perplexity’s Comet, Microsoft’s Copilot-enabled Edge, and emerging players Dia and Neon, in the race to redefine how users interact with the internet.
Experts say the rise of “agentic AI” — systems capable of acting independently online — marks a major shift from traditional AI assistants that merely provided answers. These new AI agents can now perform online tasks like scheduling, reservations, or ordering food, streamlining users’ web experiences.
Despite being a leader in AI, Google has yet to fully integrate such features into Chrome, relying instead on AI Overviews and an optional “AI Mode” that enhances search reasoning and multimodal responses. Chrome, however, still commands over 70% of the global browser market, making it deeply entrenched in users’ daily lives.
Analysts suggest that OpenAI’s integration of ChatGPT data with browser activity could give it a powerful advantage in understanding user behaviour — and in turn, online advertising. “We may be witnessing the birth of a new Google,” said Thomas Thiele of Arthur D. Little.
Industry experts agree that the battle for AI supremacy may define how people interact with technology in the years ahead — whether through browsers, chatbots, or future wearables like smart glasses.
