
According to a report by Reuters, the head of product for OpenAI’s ChatGPT revealed that if Google were ever compelled to divest its Chrome browser, OpenAI would express interest in acquiring it.
Should Chrome ultimately be separated from Google, OpenAI is inclined to consider purchasing the browser.
Currently, the U.S. Department of Justice is deliberating whether to force Google to divest Chrome in an effort to resolve antitrust concerns surrounding Google Search. Google’s dominance in the search engine market is largely attributed to Chrome’s market share and its default integration with Google Search.
To effectively address the monopolistic nature of Google Search, it may become necessary to sever Chrome from Google’s control. For Google, the loss of Chrome could lead to a modest decline in search market share, as the new operator of the browser might choose to negotiate default search engine placements based on market dynamics—an outcome that could empower alternative search engine providers.
It is worth noting that OpenAI previously sought a partnership with Google, hoping to enhance ChatGPT Search by accessing data through Google’s Search API. However, Google declined the collaboration, refusing to provide access to its search data.
OpenAI did not disclose the rationale behind Google’s rejection, though it is plausible that Google views ChatGPT Search as a potential rival, prompting its reluctance to share strategic data. At present, OpenAI obtains search data from Microsoft Bing, which supplies content via a paid API—a service also utilized by third-party search platforms such as DuckDuckGo.