As Google confronts possible repercussions from the ongoing antitrust litigation, an unexpected player has shown interest in acquiring one of its most prized possessions: Chrome. OpenAI, a prominent entity in the artificial intelligence sector, has indicated it would contemplate purchasing the widely-used web browser if Google is mandated to divest it.
This announcement surfaced during the remedy phase of the U.S. Department of Justice’s antitrust proceedings against Google. On Tuesday, Nick Turley, OpenAI’s product lead for ChatGPT, testified as a visitor for the DOJ. When queried if OpenAI would be keen on buying Chrome should it be available for acquisition, Turley replied, “Yes, we certainly would, as would numerous other entities,” according to Bloomberg.
The DOJ has suggested various potential remedies to tackle Google’s supremacy in the search arena, including compelling the tech giant to sell Chrome or share its search information with rivals. Chrome presently holds about 66 percent of the worldwide browser market, positioning it as a dominant asset in the digital landscape.
OpenAI, which has surfaced as a significant contender to Google in the AI domain, could derive substantial advantages from acquiring Chrome. Such an action would not only provide OpenAI with a vast user base but also a direct avenue to embed its AI innovations, including ChatGPT, into daily browsing experiences.
Judge Amit Mehta previously determined that Google possesses a monopoly in the search sector. The ongoing phase of the trial aims to establish how to dismantle that monopoly. Alongside the potential sale of Chrome, the DOJ has proposed the idea of mandating Google to license its search data to other firms.
Turley additionally shared that OpenAI had reached out to Google last summer in an effort to secure a license for its search data to enhance ChatGPT’s real-time search functionalities. Google turned down the proposition. At present, ChatGPT’s web-linked search feature depends on Bing, thanks to OpenAI’s collaboration with Microsoft. Turley emphasized that access to Google’s data would “enable us to develop a better product more swiftly” by improving the quality of real-time information.
In the meantime, OpenAI has been considering the possibility of launching its own web browser. According to The Information, the organization has even hired important figures from Google’s Chrome team. A browser developed by OpenAI, with a deep integration of ChatGPT and the ability for autonomous web navigation, could revolutionize user interaction with the internet.
If Chrome were to be transferred, particularly to a competitor like OpenAI, it would signify a monumental change in the technology sector. For Google, losing Chrome would represent a significant blow. For OpenAI, it could present a transformative opportunity to redefine the future of web browsing and search.