OpenAI prepares its own browser powered by ChatGPT

OpenAI is developing its own browser, codenamed “Aura.” The launch is expected to happen first on macOS. At the core of this new tool is ChatGPT running in agent mode, with support for a “use cloud browser” feature.

Early builds already show a new tab page with shortcuts — similar to typical homepage layouts in modern browsers. This page briefly appeared during internal testing and was later hidden, confirming its role in a standalone product.

The new ChatGPT web app version adds a hidden option to "Use cloud browser" when enabling Agent mode

However, interestingly, this option is enabled only if the user agent matches "ChatGPT.+Macintosh;.+ Chrome" (likely the new browser from OpenAI) - hinting at the possibility… pic.twitter.com/WQ7cXHb6yg — Tibor Blaho (@btibor91) August 14, 2025

The new setup will allow ChatGPT’s agent to interact directly with browser data without requiring repeated logins. Everything runs locally, without connecting to a remote instance. The feature is expected to remain optional and user-controlled via a toggle.

Code references reveal that the “use cloud browser” button currently works only for Chrome users on Mac. This suggests a Chromium-based foundation and a macOS-first launch strategy. Unlike Perplexity, which delayed its release to support both Mac and Windows, OpenAI is moving faster.

There’s also a chance that similar features could debut in Microsoft Edge earlier, due to ongoing collaboration between OpenAI and Microsoft.