ChatGPT Atlas: what it is, what it does, and who it’s for

OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Atlas, a new web browser with ChatGPT built in. The pitch is simple: instead of jumping between tabs or copying and pasting into a separate chatbot, Atlas brings ChatGPT into the page you’re already on, ready to read what you’re looking at and help you complete tasks in context. As of October 21, 2025, it’s available globally on macOS, with Windows, iOS, and Android “coming soon.” 

What makes Atlas different from a typical browser?

Atlas is a full browser, but its new-tab experience and sidebar are centered on ChatGPT. From a fresh tab you can ask a question or type a URL and then pivot into tabs for links, images, videos, and news, keeping chat and search in one flow. While you browse, ChatGPT can understand the current page and help summarize, compare, extract data, or draft messages without leaving the site. 

A second big idea is Agent Mode. When you turn it on, ChatGPT can carry out multi-step actions in your browser, like opening tabs, navigating forms, planning an event, or compiling research, while showing you what it’s doing. Agent Mode is launching in preview and is currently available to Plus, Pro, and Business users. 

Privacy and controls

Atlas puts a lot of emphasis on controls you can see and change:

• Page visibility toggle: A switch in the address bar lets you decide, site by site, whether ChatGPT can “see” the page at all. If visibility is off, Atlas won’t read the page and won’t create any memories from it. 

• Incognito for ChatGPT: You can open an incognito window that logs ChatGPT out temporarily so browsing and chats aren’t saved or linked. 

• Browser memories (optional): If enabled, Atlas can remember key details from sites you visit to make future help more relevant (for example, recalling product research you did last week). You can view, archive, or clear these memories anytime, and clearing browsing history also clears related memories. By default, OpenAI does not use the content you browse to train models; opting in is a user choice in data controls. 

Safety guardrails for Agent Mode

Because Agent Mode can act on pages while you’re signed in, OpenAI outlines limits designed to reduce risk. In the current preview, the agent cannot run code in the browser, download files, or install extensions, and cannot access other apps or your computer’s file system. It also pauses on sensitive sites (e.g., banking) so you can monitor actions, and you can run it logged out to further limit access. These constraints are meant to provide a safer baseline while the feature matures. 

Getting started (macOS)

The setup is straightforward: download Atlas for macOS, drag it to Applications, sign in with your ChatGPT account, and—if you want—import bookmarks, saved passwords, and history from your current browser. During setup, you’ll also choose whether to enable browser memories. If you set Atlas as your default browser, OpenAI currently offers boosted limits for seven days (terms apply). 

Day-to-day examples

• Light research: Open a page of search results, ask Atlas to “summarize key points across the top three sources,” then follow up with questions without switching context. 

• Personal tasks: With Agent Mode, you might ask Atlas to “find this recipe’s ingredients on a nearby grocery service and add them to cart,” watching each step before checkout. 

• Workflows: Ask Atlas to scan recent docs in your workspace, collect competitive insights, and draft a brief, then refine it inline as you navigate sources. (Agent Mode is preview and may make mistakes on complex tasks.) 

Atlas is a notable step toward AI-first browsing. The upside is clear: less context-switching, smarter page-aware assistance, and the promise of delegated tasks. The trade-offs are equally clear: adopting a new default browser, learning new controls (especially around visibility and memories), and evaluating Agent Mode’s reliability as it evolves. If you try it, start with conservative settings, keep memories off until you see value, use the page-visibility toggle liberally, and run Agent Mode where you can watch it work.

Download it here: Atlas

Take a look at the demo: Atlas Demo