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OpenAI has launched Atlas, an AI-powered browser that allows ChatGPT to autonomously complete web tasks like researching topics, filling forms, and booking appointments while users continue browsing.
The macOS application, available Tuesday to paid ChatGPT subscribers, introduces what OpenAI calls “agent mode”—a feature that enables the AI to open tabs, plan events, and execute online transactions without constant user input. The company positions Atlas as a shift toward “a web that works with you, not just for you.”
For the general public, the OpenAI browser represents more than a new search interface as it introduces a paradigm where AI acts as an assistant capable of real-time decision-making and seamless task automation.
The OpenAI browser’s agent mode effectively embeds a personal digital assistant within the browsing experience. Users can automate tasks ranging from research to online shopping and event planning.
For instance, someone hosting a dinner party could ask the AI agent to find recipes, locate stores with the required ingredients, add them to a shopping cart, and arrange delivery all without leaving the browser.
Atlas’s memory features allow ChatGPT to retain contextual information from websites visited, enhancing personalization over time. However, OpenAI emphasized that users maintain full control over what the AI remembers or forgets, ensuring privacy and transparency.
To maintain security, the OpenAI browser restricts sensitive operations: it cannot download files, install extensions, or access other applications or the user’s file system. The system is also designed to pause before performing actions on high-risk sites, such as banking platforms.
Tech analyst Sarah Guo, founder of Conviction Capital, noted,
“This is one of the most significant interfaces we’ve seen since the advent of the graphical browser. The OpenAI browser could redefine productivity in the same way that Google Search did two decades ago.”
The launch of the OpenAI browser coincides with a broader industry shift toward “agentic AI” — a model where autonomous agents perform digital tasks without constant human supervision.
We’ve entered the era of AI agents, said Frank Shaw, Microsoft’s Chief Communication Officer, earlier this year. This emerging vision of the internet is an open agentic web, where AI agents make decisions and perform tasks on behalf of users or organizations.
Industry leaders have echoed this sentiment. At the Federal Reserve’s Payment Innovation Conference, panelists including ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood, Coinbase CFO Alesia Haas, and Google Cloud’s Head of Strategy Richard Widmann discussed how “agentic commerce” — AI-powered systems managing payments, subscriptions, and logistics could reshape financial services.
By integrating automation and secure memory within a browser, OpenAI positions Atlas as the first mainstream step toward that vision. Experts suggest that the OpenAI browser could one day integrate with blockchain systems to provide verifiable, autonomous transaction processing combining transparency with AI autonomy.
Despite its futuristic appeal, OpenAI has underscored the importance of trust and safety. The OpenAI browser includes built-in safeguards to prevent unauthorized access and ensure users are aware before sensitive actions occur.
“Safety is fundamental,” said Mira Murati, OpenAI’s Chief Technology Officer. “Agentic systems must act responsibly. The OpenAI browser was designed with human oversight at its core.”
Privacy advocates have cautiously welcomed the launch, praising the company’s choice to limit access to local files and external software. They argue that these constraints mark a deliberate step toward responsible AI deployment preventing the kinds of privacy violations that could arise from overly autonomous systems.
As OpenAI continues refining Atlas, the OpenAI browser is expected to expand to Windows and other platforms in the coming months. The company has also hinted at possible integrations with productivity tools and secure payment systems, setting the stage for what could become the dominant AI-driven browsing experience.
The debut of the OpenAI browser highlights a fundamental shift in how people may engage with the web. Instead of being passive consumers of information, users can now rely on AI to interpret, act, and deliver outcomes from booking appointments to conducting research.
Industry observers view Atlas as a milestone in the evolution of the “agentic internet,” where intelligent systems mediate between human intention and digital execution.
If widely adopted, the OpenAI browser could redefine what it means to browse transforming it from a manual process into a dynamic partnership between user and machine.
