Bengaluru (Karnataka): When OpenAI dropped a bombshell that a brand-new web browser called "ChatGPT Atlas" would be launched, Google's parent company Alphabet watched $150 billion of its value vanish into thin air within hours. It was one of the most dramatic market reactions to any tech product launch this year. The announcement started with a mysterious six-second video showing browser tabs, followed by CEO Sam Altman revealing what he called "a once-a-decade opportunity to rethink what a browser can be."  OpenAI's new browser isn't just another Chrome knockoff. It's a direct attack on how Google makes money. 

Why Should OpenAI Bother Google?

Google doesn't make a penny from Chrome itself. The browser is just a tool to funnel users toward Google Search, where the company rakes in over $175 billion yearly from advertisers. Every time you search "best laptops 2025," Google shows paid ads at the top. Atlas threatens to blow up that entire system. It has ChatGPT embedded directly into every webpage you visit. Need to book a flight? The AI handles it without you ever opening Google. No Google searches means no ad revenue. And that's what terrified Wall Street. The browser's standout feature is "agent mode"-and it's exactly as wild as it sounds. Turn it on, and the AI literally controls your mouse and keyboard to complete tasks while you watch (or walk away). 

It can compare flights across multiple sites, research products, fill out forms, even edit documents. All automatically. For now, only ChatGPT Plus and Pro subscribers get access to this feature, though anyone can use the basic browser for free. "We think AI represents a rare once-a-decade opportunity to rethink what a browser can be," Altman announced during the livestream on Tuesday, October 21, surrounded by engineers who previously worked on Chrome and Firefox. Alphabet's shares nosedived 4.8% to $246.15 within hours of OpenAI's reveal. They recovered slightly by closing time but still ended down 2.4% at $250.46-a $150 billion loss in market value. Why such an extreme reaction? Because OpenAI already has 800 million people using ChatGPT every week. That's a ready-made audience that could switch browsers overnight.

Atlas Built on Google's Own Technology

Here's the ironic twist: Atlas runs on Chromium, the exact same open-source foundation that powers Chrome. OpenAI essentially copied Google's blueprint, supercharged it with AI, and turned it into competition. It's perfectly legal, but it's got to hurt. Google isn't sitting idle. They've integrated their Gemini AI into Chrome and recently dodged a court order that could have forced them to sell off the browser. But Google faces an impossible choice: make Chrome smarter with AI and risk killing their search business, or hold back and watch competitors steal users.

Google's earnings report drops October 29. Analysts will be scanning for any evidence that AI tools are already eating into search traffic. Based on Tuesday's stock crash, many investors aren't waiting but assuming the damage has already begun. The real question isn't whether Atlas will overtake Chrome next week. It's whether OpenAI just started the countdown on Google's $175 billion advertising empire. Atlas is available now on Mac, with Windows and mobile versions coming soon. And 800 million ChatGPT users are ready to give it a try.

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