Another Crazy Day in AI: ChatGPT Now Has Its Own Browser
- Wowza Team
- Oct 21
- 4 min read
Hello, AI Enthusiasts.
Long day? Let’s catch you up real quick.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT Atlas might be the most ambitious take on browsing yet — it talks, learns, and keeps track of your digital path.
That same feature, though, has experts worried about how much memory AI should really have. The debate grows louder: should machines know us this well?
Google’s taking the opposite route — helping people build their own AI skills instead of just relying on the tech.
Hard to believe it’s just Tuesday, right?
Here's another crazy day in AI:
OpenAI launches Atlas browser with built-in ChatGPT
The hidden costs of AI memory
Google’s new hub for AI learning
Some AI tools to try out
TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: ChatGPT Brings Agent Mode to Web Browsing
Image Credit: Wowza (created with Ideogram)
Another AI browser entering the scene, or the one that finally gets it right?
OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Atlas, a revolutionary web browser that integrates ChatGPT as its core component rather than just an add-on feature. Announced by Sam Altman and the Atlas team, this launch reimagines web browsing by replacing traditional URL-based navigation with conversational AI interaction. The browser maintains familiar features like tabs, bookmarks, and autofill while introducing three groundbreaking capabilities: contextual chat that follows users across all websites, browser memory that personalizes the experience over time, and agent mode that autonomously performs tasks on behalf of users.
Here's what you need to know:
Sidebar assistance on any page – Every website gets an "Ask ChatGPT" button that opens a sidebar capable of reading the current page, whether you need help summarizing an article, understanding code, or comparing products without copying text between tabs
Memory that builds context – The browser can remember information from your browsing sessions to offer more personalized help and suggestions, though this feature is completely optional and you can review, manage, or delete stored memories anytime
Agent mode for hands-off tasks – ChatGPT can take control of the browser to complete multi-step processes like organizing documents across Google Docs and Linear, conducting research across multiple sites, or filling shopping carts; currently available in preview for Plus, Pro, and Business subscribers
Inline text refinement – Highlight text in any input field across the web and ask ChatGPT to edit, improve, or rewrite it without switching to another application
Conversational search results – Search queries return answers you can discuss back and forth with ChatGPT, while still offering traditional web links, images, videos, and news in separate tabs
Control over access and privacy – Choose which sites ChatGPT can see, turn memory features on or off at will, or use incognito mode to browse without any ChatGPT involvement or data collection
Security boundaries – The agent cannot run code, download files, or add extensions, and it asks for permission before touching financial websites; users can also run it in logged-out mode to restrict access to personal accounts
What OpenAI is proposing with Atlas is fundamentally different from adding AI features to an existing browser. The company designed Atlas around the idea that you'll be talking to ChatGPT regularly as you browse, making it a constant companion rather than an occasional tool. This approach will appeal to some users while feeling excessive to others, depending largely on how people actually use the web day-to-day. The agent mode stands out as the most ambitious feature—it goes beyond answering questions to actually performing tasks by navigating sites and interacting with pages on your behalf. That level of automation could be incredibly useful for repetitive work, but it also means trusting software to make decisions and take actions with access to your logged-in accounts and personal information.
OpenAI has been straightforward about the limitations and potential problems. They've documented that agent mode can make errors and remains vulnerable to malicious instructions that might be embedded in web content. The company built in various protections and gives users control over what the browser can see and do, but they acknowledge these safeguards won't stop everything. The real test will be how Atlas performs in everyday situations—whether the memory system feels genuinely helpful or just intrusive, if the agent can handle common tasks reliably enough to trust, and whether having ChatGPT always available actually improves the browsing experience or just adds complexity. How users respond to this browser over the next few months will reveal a lot about whether deeply integrated AI is something people want in their daily web use or if simpler, more targeted AI features are enough.
Read the full article here.
Watch the livestream replay here.
OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:
The Hidden Costs of AI Memory
/Gathoni Ireri, Junior Research Scholar, Contributor, on Tech Policy Press
AI systems are learning to “remember” us — storing and recalling details across interactions to deliver more personalized experiences. But as platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Anthropic expand these long-term memory features, questions around transparency, consent, and manipulation are becoming urgent. Research shows that personalization can make AI far more persuasive, raising ethical concerns about influence and autonomy. Without clear safeguards, the very memory that makes AI more useful could also make it more dangerous.
Read more here.
Google’s New Hub for AI Learning
/Karen Dahut, CEO, Google Public Sector, on Google Blogs — The Keyword
Google just launched Google Skills, a unified platform offering nearly 3,000 courses, labs, and credentials designed to help people and organizations build real-world AI expertise. The new learning hub combines resources from Google Cloud, DeepMind, and Grow with Google into one accessible experience — complete with gamified lessons, team leaderboards, and certifications. Whether you’re a student, a developer, or an enterprise leader, Google Skills aims to make learning AI practical, interactive, and fun — with many options available at no cost.
Read more here.
SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:
DocsAlot – Auto-generate and update docs, tutorials, and guides as code changes.
Mockuplabs – Instantly turn any image into a realistic, professional product mockup.
Simplora – Turns complex meetings into clear summaries and smart follow-ups real time.
That’s a wrap on today’s Almost Daily craziness.
Catch us almost every day—almost! 😉
EXCITING NEWS:
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