Introduction to ChatGPT Atlas
OpenAI has launched a new browser called ChatGPT Atlas, which is described as "the browser with ChatGPT built in." This launch was announced in a blog post and livestream featuring CEO Sam Altman and team members, including Ben Goodger, who previously helped develop Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. ChatGPT Atlas is currently available on macOS worldwide for Free, Plus, Pro, and Go users, with Windows, iOS, and Android versions coming soon.
What Does ChatGPT Atlas Do?
ChatGPT Atlas offers several unique features that set it apart from traditional browsers. These features include a unified new tab experience, a ChatGPT sidebar, cursor chat, agent mode, and browser memories.
Unified New Tab Experience
When you open a new tab in ChatGPT Atlas, you can ask questions or enter URLs, and the results will appear with tabs to switch between links, images, videos, and news. This feature allows you to see faster, more useful results in one place, with tab-based navigation that keeps ChatGPT answers and traditional search results within the same view.
ChatGPT Sidebar
The ChatGPT sidebar appears in any browser window and can summarize content, compare products, or analyze data from the page you’re viewing. This feature provides assistance without leaving the current page, making it easier to get the information you need.
Cursor Chat
Cursor chat allows you to highlight text in emails, calendar invites, or documents and get ChatGPT help with one click. This feature can rewrite selected text inline without opening a separate chat window, making it a convenient tool for editing and rewriting text.
Agent Mode
Agent mode can open tabs and click through websites to complete tasks with user approval. This feature can research products, book appointments, or organize tasks inside your browser. While it’s still an early experience and may make mistakes on complex workflows, OpenAI is rapidly improving its reliability and task success rates.
Browser Memories
Browser memories allow ChatGPT to remember context from sites you visit and bring back relevant details when needed. This feature can continue product research or build to-do lists from recent activity. Browser memories are optional, and you can view all memories in settings, archive ones that are no longer relevant, and clear browsing history to delete them.
Privacy Controls
ChatGPT Atlas provides several privacy controls that allow you to control what ChatGPT can see and remember. You can clear specific pages, clear entire browsing history, or open an incognito window to temporarily log out of ChatGPT. By default, OpenAI doesn’t use browsing content to train models, but you can opt-in by enabling "include web browsing" in data controls settings.
Why This Matters
ChatGPT Atlas blurs the line between browser and search engine by putting ChatGPT responses alongside traditional search results in the same view. This changes the browsing model from "visit search engine, then navigate to sites" to "ask questions and browse simultaneously." This matters because it’s another major platform where AI-generated answers appear before organic links. The agent mode also introduces a new variable: AI systems that can navigate sites, fill forms, and complete purchases on behalf of users without traditional click-through patterns.
Looking Ahead
OpenAI is rolling out ChatGPT Atlas for macOS starting today, with first-run setup importing bookmarks, saved passwords, and browsing history from your current browser. Windows, iOS, and Android versions are scheduled to launch in the coming months without specific release dates. The roadmap includes multi-profile support, improved developer tools, and guidance for websites to add ARIA tags to help the agent work better with their content.
Conclusion
ChatGPT Atlas is a new browser that combines the power of ChatGPT with traditional browsing features. With its unified new tab experience, ChatGPT sidebar, cursor chat, agent mode, and browser memories, ChatGPT Atlas offers a unique browsing experience that sets it apart from traditional browsers. While there are still some limitations and potential risks associated with agent mode, OpenAI is committed to improving the reliability and security of the feature. Overall, ChatGPT Atlas has the potential to change the way we browse the internet and interact with AI systems.