An OpenAI representative told the court that the company is interested in buying the Chrome browser if Google is forced to sell it. ChatGPT product chief Nick Turley made this statement during the ongoing US antitrust case against Google. Authorities believe that separating Chrome from Google’s ecosystem could help reduce the company’s dominance in the search services market.
Judge Amit Mehta has previously ruled that Google holds a monopoly in online search, and possible remedies to curb its influence are now under consideration. While Google intends to appeal the ruling, OpenAI is prepared to become a buyer should the court order Chrome’s sale, according to The Verge, citing Reuters.
It also emerged that OpenAI attempted to negotiate a partnership with Google last year, aiming to let ChatGPT leverage Google’s search technologies. Currently, the chatbot relies on Microsoft’s Bing for search data. However, as Turley noted, the company has “serious quality issues” with its current provider. In a letter presented to the court, OpenAI stated, “We believe that working with Google would help us improve our product.” Despite this, Google declined the partnership offer.
A Broader Strategy Behind the Interest
At the same time, OpenAI is continuing to develop its own search engine, adds NIXSOLUTIONS. The initial plan was for ChatGPT to rely on it for around 80% of user queries by 2025, but that goal now appears overly optimistic. It may take several more years to reach that milestone. Still, we’ll keep you updated as more integrations become available.
Experts suggest that OpenAI’s interest in Chrome extends beyond search technology. Acquiring the browser could give the company direct access to users and their data, bolstering its position in the competitive landscape against Google and Microsoft. For now, it’s up to the court to decide whether Google must be broken up and if Chrome will be treated as a standalone asset.
If Chrome does go up for sale, OpenAI is likely to be one of the main contenders. However, it’s also expected that other major players in the tech industry will compete for the opportunity.