US — In a surprising yet calculated move, OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has expressed its willingness to acquire Google Chrome should U.S. antitrust regulators compel the tech giant to divest its flagship browser. The announcement, made during a high-profile trial in Washington D.C., underscores a broader strategic vision that may reshape the future of digital search and artificial intelligence.
The U.S. Department of Justice has brought forward a case accusing Google of maintaining unlawful monopolies in online search and advertising. As part of the ongoing legal process, regulators are exploring structural remedies—including the possibility of asset divestitures. It was in this context that Nick Turley, Head of Product at OpenAI, revealed the company’s interest in Chrome.
This interest is not merely opportunistic—it signals OpenAI’s ambition to assert greater influence over the digital information landscape. Chrome, with its vast user base and role as a primary gateway to the web, holds significant strategic value. For OpenAI, access to this browser would strengthen its distribution channel and further integrate its AI systems with user-facing platforms.
Previously, OpenAI had reached out to Google, seeking access to its search technology to enhance ChatGPT’s capabilities. However, the request was denied, with Google citing potential competitive risks. Consequently, ChatGPT has continued relying on Microsoft Bing as its default search partner.
Yet, Turley emphasized that access to multiple search APIs—especially one as dominant as Google’s—would be vital for delivering a more accurate and timely user experience. The move toward acquiring Chrome, if feasible, could offer OpenAI a direct pipeline for both data and user engagement, amplifying its capacity to refine and expand AI-driven services.
Emails presented during the hearing revealed that OpenAI initiated contact in July, but Google declined by August. Turley also testified that search remains a foundational component for the future of ChatGPT, particularly in its mission to answer user queries with current, factual information—a challenge that, according to him, remains years away from being independently solved.
The Department of Justice has proposed a more competitive search ecosystem, including compelling Google to share access to its search data with rivals. Should this become a reality, it may accelerate innovation across the AI landscape and reduce reliance on dominant players.
Google, meanwhile, has rejected claims that the case centers on AI, insisting that the company faces robust competition from firms such as Meta and Microsoft. Regardless, the case has revealed how search dominance intersects with the next frontier in AI—and how companies like OpenAI are positioning themselves to shape it.
