Atlas Arrives as OpenAI Brings AI Agents to the Browser for the First Time

By Emir Abyazov

Example of AI assistant while shopping

Key highlights:

  • Atlas can browse, shop, and automate tasks while you surf the web
  • AI agents are entering daily life and reshaping online behavior
  • Security controls aim to make autonomous browsing feel safe

OpenAI has introduced Atlas, a new web browser powered by built-in AI agents that can explore information, automate tasks, and even make purchases while users continue browsing. 

The company behind ChatGPT says Atlas represents a look at how people will interact, search, and shop online in the near future. The browser is currently available on macOS for paid users.

Atlas includes a memory system that allows the AI to remember context from websites, but its standout capability is agent mode — an autonomous feature that lets the browser open tabs, follow links, research topics, and act on behalf of the user. 

OpenAI says Atlas is now better at research, task automation, event planning, and even booking services directly from the web.

A personal AI assistant inside the browser

In agent mode, Atlas works like a digital assistant built directly into the browsing experience. It can plan a dinner party by selecting a recipe, locating the right ingredients, adding them to a cart, and scheduling delivery. 

Source: OpenAI

The browser also includes security protections that block code execution, prevent file downloads, restrict access to local apps, and pause before interacting with banking or financial websites.

AI agents and the future of the internet

Tech leaders are calling this shift the beginning of an “AI agent era,” where digital assistants will complete tasks for users with little or no manual input. 

At the Fed’s Payment Innovation Conference, experts from ARK Invest, Coinbase, and Google Cloud discussed how autonomous agents could transform online payments, commerce, and day-to-day digital activity. Atlas may be one of the first consumer products to show what that future looks like.

Source:: Atlas Arrives as OpenAI Brings AI Agents to the Browser for the First Time