OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has expressed interest in purchasing Google Chrome—the world’s most widely used web browser—should Google be forced to divest as part of ongoing antitrust actions.
The revelation came during testimony by OpenAI executive Nick Turley, who appeared on behalf of the U.S. government in its monopoly trial against Google in Washington, D.C. The Department of Justice (DOJ) is seeking to break up parts of Google’s business, citing its overwhelming dominance in online search and digital advertising.
Turley noted that OpenAI had previously attempted to partner with Google to integrate search results into ChatGPT, but the offer was declined. OpenAI currently partners with Microsoft, which operates both Bing and the Edge browser.
Google, which owns about 64% of the global browser market according to Similarweb, has firmly denied any intention of selling Chrome. The company argues that the DOJ’s proposed remedies would harm consumers and U.S. technological leadership.
This trial follows recent legal defeats for Google, including rulings that it holds monopolies in both online search and advertising. Google plans to appeal.
The proceedings come as the rise of generative AI tools, including Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT, increasingly reshape how users access information online.
Separately, OpenAI is also reportedly exploring a potential social media platform—a move that could pit it against Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter. The project is said to be in early stages, according to The Verge.
The trial is expected to last three weeks and is being closely watched by fellow tech giants Meta, Amazon, and Apple, all of whom are also facing antitrust scrutiny.
