The premiere of ChatGPT AtlasOpenAI's AI-powered browser, LaPel, bursts onto the scene amid the battle for control of the online experience. As Sam Altman and his team unveiled the product, the market reacted cautiously: Alphabet's shares dipped during the session and ended the day with a moderate decline, a sign that the sector is watching closely, but not panicking.
Beyond the initial noise, the relevant point is that OpenAI places the ChatGPT browser At the heart of navigation: AI is no longer just an add-on; it's the starting point for searching, reading, and interacting on the web. Currently, it's available on macOS, with plans for Windows, iOS and Android, and the more advanced features — such as agent mode — require ChatGPT Plus (about $20 a month).
What is ChatGPT Atlas and what does it offer?
Atlas is a Chromium-based browser with deep integration of ChatGPTIt's not just a chat stuck in a tab: it understands the context of the open page, summarizes content, answers related questions, and can perform actions within the sites.
Its distinguishing feature lies in two key concepts: the “browser memories”which allow AI to remember elements of your activity to offer more personalized help, and the “agent mode”, which takes control to perform autonomous tasks (from online shopping to bookings or form management).
The new tab and address bar are designed so that Make your entries promptIf you type something, Atlas responds with AI by default, although it enables tabs with web results, images and videos, and even offers a shortcut to search on Google when the user prefers.
To start using it, you need Log in with your ChatGPT account (There is no guest mode like in other browsers.) The initial wizard guides you through importing bookmarks and history, suggests memory limits, and provides suggestions. Set Atlas as default in exchange of looser AI limits for a few days.
Availability, price and requirements
At launch, Atlas is available for macOSOpenAI has brought forward its arrival on Windows, as well as on iOS and Android, and is preparing beta versions for businesses and education.
The essential functions—reading, summarizing, or chatting with context—are accessible, but the agent mode Automating tasks requires a ChatGPT Plus, Pro, or Enterprise plan subscription. Search engine integration is provided by Google and is available. add motors manually indicating the URL with the wildcard %s.
The settings manage passwords, addresses, and browser data, as well as a panel of Data controls to review memories, histories and delete archived conversations when necessary.
What you can do in practice
Atlas aims to become a Swiss Army knife for reading, creating, and interacting with websites. In the sidebar, the button “Ask ChatGPT” It opens the door to these functions with the context of the active page.
- Summaries of long pages in the form of points and subpoints, assisted reading and extraction of key ideas.
- Summary and interaction with youtubeQuestions about its content, transcription, or translation.
- Rewriting of selected fragments, grammar correction and style adjustment.
- Guided study: generates multiple choice questions on the current page and adjust the level.
- Memories to locate links viewed days ago and fast page retrieval.
- Smart Markers requested by voice or text, and tab management (group, sort or selectively close).
- Interaction with attached files (PDF, DOCX, CSV, XLSX) to summarize, analyze, or search within the content.
- Specific searches within a page or document and comparison between two tabs open.
- Image generation and editing without leaving the browser, as well as content creation with context.
Agent mode is the most ambitious feature: it allows you to request that Make a purchase online following a list, organizing a trip with price filters, or filling out complex forms. In demonstrations, the agent was able to navigate stores like Instacart to add suitable products and finalize orders.
Security, privacy, and current limits
The proposal raises delicate questions. Several researchers have warned that a browser that Remember and act for yourself It expands the attack surface. Among the risks, the following stand out: prompt injection: malicious instructions hidden in a website or email that could lead AI to perform unwanted actions.
Independent tests have shown that it is possible redirect to the agent towards fake sites if extreme precautions are not taken, and that persistent memory could end up recording sensitive information if it is not properly defined. Although memories can be consulted and deleted, their mere existence obliges monitor for leaks or unauthorized access.
OpenAI acknowledges that the prompt injection It is a problem that still lacks a definitive solution. As mitigations, it claims to have trained the model to ignore malicious instructions, and offers a “logged out mode” to act without credentials when they are not needed, a “watch mode” which requires keeping the tab active on sensitive sites and controls for erasing memories and restrict downloads or code execution.
These layers reduce risk, but the approach itself—a assistant with memory that interacts with the web— advises using the agent with supervision and prudence, especially in financial, health or administrative tasks.
Competition, market and the challenge of adoption
OpenAI's entry occurs with Chrome dominating the market (largest global market share and leadership in desktop in the US) and with Google accelerating the integration of Gemini in your browser. Microsoft pushes Copilot in Edgeand other AI projects (such as Comet of Perplexity) they don't take off beyond a token quota.
The reality is that changing browsers requires a strong incentiveAlthough Atlas offers a powerful approach, the cost of Plus for agent mode and the lack of a stable version on all platforms from day one may hinder its expansion among non-enthusiastic users.
In the stock market, the Atlas announcement triggered a immediate reaction Alphabet's stock price moderated at the close, a sign that investors value the novelty, but also the weight of incumbents and their ability to integrate AI without changing user habits.
What can users in Spain and Europe expect?
For those who work or study in Spain, Atlas can streamline daily life: summaries of long articles, support for comparing prices, assistance with forms and organization of tabs by projects, all in Spanish and with AI in the same window.
Its adoption will depend on whether the agent mode It provides enough value to justify the subscription and to show how data protection and security evolve in European environments. The possibility of limit memories And excluding sites from AI reading will be key to its responsible use.
To try it today, simply download the version of MacOSLog in and, if desired, import bookmarks and history from your usual browser; when the Windows, iOS and Android versions arrive, the rollout will be more homogeneous across devices.
With Atlas, OpenAI puts AI at the heart of everyday browsing and opens a new era in which browsers will compete for who best integrates the assistantFunctions, security, memory, and automation will be the playing field, while users and companies weigh whether the leap is worthwhile compared to established alternatives.
