The ongoing antitrust case against Google has sparked an intriguing development: OpenAI has expressed interest in acquiring the Chrome browser should the court mandate its divestiture. This revelation came during testimony from Nick Turley, OpenAI’s head of product for ChatGPT, as part of the Department of Justice’s case against Google. While OpenAI’s interest is significant, Turley acknowledged that numerous other parties would likely be vying for Chrome should it become available. This isn’t surprising given Chrome’s dominant market share, boasting approximately 3.45 billion users globally and commanding nearly two-thirds of the browser market.
Chrome’s vast user base makes it an attractive asset for any company, and Turley’s testimony may also influence the court’s decision regarding Google’s control over the browser. For OpenAI, acquiring Chrome could be a strategic move, especially given its previous unsuccessful attempts to integrate ChatGPT natively into Google’s ecosystem. Earlier testimony revealed that OpenAI considers search technology crucial for its “super assistant” ambitions. However, Google, a major competitor in the AI arena, has seemingly blocked OpenAI’s access.
Turley outlined several key reasons for OpenAI’s interest in Chrome, primarily focusing on distribution challenges. While ChatGPT has achieved integration on iOS devices, securing a presence on Android has proven more difficult. This difficulty is attributed partly to Google’s alleged preferential treatment of Gemini, its consumer AI product, and partly to Google’s financial agreements with Android phone manufacturers. The DOJ disclosed that Google paid Samsung a substantial sum to pre-install Gemini on its devices. OpenAI reportedly bid for similar access but was unsuccessful, despite considerable effort.
Beyond distribution, Turley voiced concerns about potential exclusion from major platforms controlling product discovery. Both Apple and Google manage their respective app stores, giving them power to prioritize their own products, potentially hindering OpenAI’s reach. This concern might carry more weight if OpenAI weren’t backed by a substantial $13 billion investment from Microsoft, which has integrated OpenAI’s AI model into its search engine (Bing), browser (Edge), AI suite, and even standalone devices. It’s also plausible that OpenAI would leverage Chrome to direct users towards its own search product, ChatGPT Search, rather than maintaining it as a truly open platform.
OpenAI could theoretically build a browser using Chromium, the open-source base for browsers like Microsoft Edge, Opera, and Chrome itself. The company has reportedly considered this option, initiating discussions about developing its own browser last November. Acquiring Chrome, however, would significantly accelerate this process and, perhaps more importantly, remove Chrome from Google’s control.
In conclusion, OpenAI’s pursuit of Chrome represents a strategic maneuver within the broader context of the Google antitrust case. While the outcome remains uncertain, the potential acquisition highlights the increasing importance of browsers in the evolving landscape of AI and search technology. This move could reshape the competitive dynamics of the tech industry and significantly impact user access to information and online services.
