ChatGPT’s Parent Company OpenAI Would Buy Chrome If Regulators Break Up Google

OpenAI Would Buy Chrome If Forced Sale Goes Ahead, Executive Says

A senior OpenAI executive has revealed the company would consider buying Google's Chrome browser if a forced divestment is imposed as part of ongoing antitrust proceedings in the United States.

Speaking at a Washington court on 22 April, ChatGPT head of product Nick Turley confirmed that OpenAI would be interested in acquiring Chrome should it be offered for sale.

He described the opportunity as a way to “introduce users into what an AI-first [browser] looks like.”

The disclosure came during the remedies phase of the U.S. v. Google trial, where the Department of Justice is pressing for measures to reduce Google's dominance in online search.

Why OpenAI Wants Chrome

Turley explained that owning Chrome would allow OpenAI to create a more seamless AI-driven web experience.

The company is exploring ways to better integrate AI into the everyday browsing experience, and Chrome’s user base and infrastructure could offer a head start.

The remarks were made during the remedies phase of the antitrust trial involving Google, where the U.S. Department of Justice is recommending structural changes, including a potential divestment of Chrome, to reduce Google's influence in the search market.

OpenAI Tried Partnering With Google But Was Rejected

Turley also revealed that OpenAI had approached Google last year to request access to its search technology.

The aim was to improve ChatGPT’s real-time responses with more accurate and up-to-date information.

An email shown in court stated,

“We believe having multiple partners, and in particular Google’s API, would enable us to provide a better product to users.”

Google declined the request in August 2024, citing concerns over working with competitors.

Turley added,

“We have no partnership with Google today.”

Problems With Current Search Provider

ChatGPT currently relies on Microsoft’s Bing for search-based queries, but Turley told the court that OpenAI has faced “significant quality issues” with the unnamed provider, referred to in court as “Provider No. 1.”

Due to these issues, OpenAI has been building its own search index.

While the original goal was to answer 80 percent of user queries using internal systems by the end of 2025, the company now says that milestone is still several years away.

Search remains a critical component for delivering up-to-date and factual information, according to Turley.

Is OpenAI Building Its Own Browser?

In a move that suggests bigger ambitions, OpenAI recently hired two former Chrome developers, Ben Goodger and Darin Fisher.

Both played key roles in developing the original browser at Google.

Although OpenAI has not confirmed plans to launch a browser, the hires indicate serious interest in entering the space.

Turley described the potential to build an AI-native browser as a “really incredible experience” for users, suggesting that integrating AI tools into the web experience is a key part of OpenAI’s future roadmap.

AI And Search Becoming More Intertwined

The hearing shed light on how closely generative AI and online search are now connected.

As users increasingly turn to chatbots for real-time answers, companies like OpenAI see access to high-quality search data as critical for improving the quality of AI responses.

While OpenAI currently leads in the chatbot space, internal documents shared during the trial show that it does not rule out Google as a competitor or future partner.