OpenAI teases a string of updates for its AI-powered browser, ChatGPT Atlas

Less than two days ago, OpenAI came out swinging in the fight for the future of the internet with the release of ChatGPT Atlas, an AI-powered web browser it hopes will topple Google Chrome. Adam Fry, OpenAI’s Atlas leader, says the team is already “heads down making it better” and teased a bunch of new features on the way. 

“Profiles coming!” Fry said. Tab groups and an opt-in ad blocker are also on their way in the near future. The features, common to many popular internet browsers, were included on a list of “post-launch fixes” for Atlas that Fry posted on X. Most of these should land “over the coming weeks,” he said, “though some may take a little longer.” 

The list includes a series of quality of life upgrades like an overflow bookmarks menu and a list of shortcuts. 

Changes are also on the way to the browser’s key AI features. This includes the agent — which is only available to ChatGPT Plus and Pro users for now and can take actions for you — and the Ask ChatGPT sidebar, which integrates the company’s flagship chatbot. The agent will be getting better response times, a more reliable “pause” function, and improved integration with products like Google Drive and cloud Excel, Fry said. The sidebar will be easier to use without leaving and let users pick different projects or AI models directly without having to navigate away. 

“If you have more suggestions for us, let us know!” Fry said. His responses to suggestions indicate OpenAI already has a solid prototype that would let users directly copy and insert text from the Ask ChatGPT sidebar. He also said it would be a good idea if the browser automatically reopened pinned tabs when closing and restarting. 

Fry said the team is also working on some “specific,” though unspecified, fixes for password manager 1Password. “There are other things we’re working on, but those may involve partners, and we’ve left those off this list.”