I’m watching OpenAI discontinue ChatGPT Atlas, its standalone desktop browser, and move its browser-based AI features into the new ChatGPT desktop app. That app brings together ChatGPT Work, OpenAI’s work-focused agent, and ChatGPT Codex.
The end of Atlas. I’m taking note of an Aug. 9 retirement date after OpenAI’s James Sun confirmed the plan on X.
I’m also noting Sun’s exact wording: “The current targeted date for deprecation is 8/9, and we’ll share more information in the upcoming days both in-app and via email.”
One desktop app. I see the new ChatGPT desktop app becoming OpenAI’s primary desktop product, complete with built-in browser capabilities. Instead of maintaining a separate AI browser, OpenAI is combining browsing, work-agent features, and Codex in one place.
Chrome users can keep Chrome. If I prefer using Chrome, I can access ChatGPT and Codex through OpenAI’s Chrome extension without switching to a dedicated OpenAI browser.
As AI reshapes search, every glowing path to discovery carries commercial value—turning SEO investment into a conversation about pipeline, risk, and customer acquisition costs.
Why I care. I see this as an important shift because OpenAI is moving AI browsing into the main ChatGPT experience, where more people can ask questions, research brands, and complete tasks. In my view, that gives ChatGPT another opportunity to influence discovery beyond traditional search results.
I first saw ChatGPT Atlas launch on Mac in October. OpenAI later released a dedicated Codex app and added an in-app browser in April. Now, I’m watching those capabilities move into the new unified ChatGPT desktop app.
I’ve recently discovered that Google’s latest update to Chrome now offers an ingenious AI Mode, designed to make my browsing experience more streamlined and efficient. With this new enhancement, I can dive deeper into searches with fewer tabs, making my workflow smoother than ever before.
What’s new? Let me walk you through the three exciting features in Chrome’s AI Mode. First up is the ability to search side-by-side. Now, when I click on a link in AI Mode on my desktop, the related webpage opens right next to it. This setup allows me to easily compare details, visit relevant sites, and ask follow-up questions without losing the context of my search. Here’s how it looks:
Another fantastic addition is the ability to search across my tabs. Whether on desktop or mobile, I can now tap the new “plus” menu on the New Tab page or within AI Mode to incorporate recent tabs into my search. This feature helps AI Mode provide more customized responses and suggest additional sites worth exploring.
Lastly, there’s the multi-input and easy tool access feature. I can mix and match various tabs, images, or files such as PDFs, and bring that context directly into AI Mode. Plus, tools like Canvas and image creation are readily accessible wherever I see the new plus menu in Chrome.
Understanding why this matters to us as users is crucial. These Chrome-specific features launched initially for U.S. English users unlock greater AI Mode capabilities. While currently limited to Chrome users, they clearly indicate Google’s forward-thinking direction in AI integration.
I’ve got some exciting news to share about Google’s latest developments! They’re expanding their innovative Personal Intelligence feature across AI Mode in Search, the Gemini app, and in Chrome—specifically for U.S. users.
Google’s Personal Intelligence now moves beyond its beta phase, reaching more everyday users. It’s an exhilarating step toward a truly personalized search experience, thanks to clever use of first-party data like Gmail and Photos. This shift makes search outcomes more personalized and unique, especially in AI Mode, where results adapt to individual user behaviors, previous purchases, and search histories.
Why I care
Google’s push into personalized search fascinates me. It’s creating a landscape where search results become increasingly individualized, but consequently harder to predict or replicate.
The details
Personal Intelligence will now function across:
AI Mode in Google Search (available now in the U.S.)
Gemini app (currently rolling out to free users)
Gemini integrated in Chrome (ongoing rollout)
How it works
I can connect applications such as Gmail and Google Photos, allowing Google to give me personalized responses. Some of the cool examples I’ve come across include:
Shopping suggestions rooted in my buying habits and favorite brands.
Tech troubleshooting aided by receipt details for the exact devices.
Travel tips tailored to my flight schedules and past getaways.
Custom itineraries and local recommendations.
Hobby proposals based on my interests.
Availability
It’s worth noting that these features are reserved for personal Google accounts and won’t extend to Workspace users—for now, at least.
Want to know more?
You can check out the details on the ad-free promise Google made for AI Mode users here.
Catch-up quick
Originally, Google introduced Personal Intelligence for Gemini subscribers in January with limited access to AI Pro and Ultra users. At that point, it hadn’t been integrated with Search—something they’ve since rectified.
Initially, the feature was optional and off by default.
New updates deliver on Google’s plan by making it part of Search AI Mode.
They’re rapidly expanding access to more users, even for free accounts.
Plus, it’s now merging into Chrome.
Privacy and control
Google emphasizes user choice:
Opt-in is required to connect apps like Gmail.
Users can enable or disable connections whenever they choose.
Importantly, Gmail and Photos content isn’t directly used to train AI models.
However, Google may use limited data like prompts and responses to enhance their systems.
For further reading, check out Google’s blog post on this impressive expansion of Personal Intelligence here.
Recently, while exploring the latest developments in web technology, I stumbled upon something groundbreaking: WebMCP, introduced in Chrome 146. Being a tech enthusiast, I was intrigued to learn how this emerging protocol could reshape the way AI agents interact with websites.
Chrome 146 has rolled out an exciting early preview of WebMCP, hidden behind a flag. This protocol, known as Web Model Context Protocol (WebMCP), is designed as a web standard to lay out website tools in a structured manner, guiding AI agents in executing tasks seamlessly.
So, what does this mean for us? Historically, the internet has been developed with humans in mind. Buttons, forms, and dropdowns are all elements we understand. But there’s an emerging user—AI agents. Soon, they will be completing registrations, purchasing tickets, and achieving other goals autonomously on websites.
Currently, AI agents face a daunting task. They navigate websites by crawling and attempting to decipher their functionalities. Imagine an AI agent trying to book a flight. It has to identify input fields, guess data formats, and pray nothing goes awry. It’s far from ideal.
The introduction of WebMCP is set to change this. By exposing the structure behind web tools, AI agents will be equipped to understand and execute tasks with ease.
Let’s dive a bit deeper to understand WebMCP. Picture yourself needing to book a flight.
Without WebMCP: An AI agent scrambles to find a relevant button like “Book a Flight” or “Search Flights.” It then interprets the on-screen information, hoping it inputs correctly.
With WebMCP: Forget searching for buttons. Instead, the agent calls a function, like bookFlight(), using well-defined parameters (such as date, origin/destination, and passengers), receiving a structured result in return. Much like developers interacting via APIs, AI agents will seamlessly call functions.
WebMCP empowers websites with JavaScript APIs and HTML form annotations, guiding AI agents on interacting with web tools in three steps:
Discovery: What tools does the page support? Examples include Checkout, BookFlight, or searchProducts.
JSON Schemas: They precisely define expected inputs and the kind of output that will be returned.
State: Tool availability alters based on the page’s state, allowing agents to only see actions relevant to the current context.
My website, for instance, could offer a list of actions each detailing its functionality, accepted inputs, returned outputs, and required permissions.
But why does this matter? AI agents are infiltrating our daily workflows rapidly. Soon, AI will handle our flight bookings, fill out forms, and publish content. But, as of now, AI agents struggle to interact seamlessly with websites due to two current approaches:
Automation (fragile): An AI acts by clicking buttons and inputting data like we do, but since websites frequently update, this can lead to failures.
APIs (limited): While APIs offer a structured approach for interaction, they’re not universally available or comprehensive.
WebMCP offers a middle ground, allowing websites to make tools accessible without the drawbacks of UI automation or needing separate APIs.
Like the early 2000s SEO race, WebMCP symbolizes a shift towards optimization for AI agents. Those who adopt this early could enjoy significant advantages as AI-centric search and commerce grow.
This opportunity is not merely about SEO anymore. It’s about realizing broader growth potential through WebMCP, which signifies not just being discoverable, but actionable by AI agents who’ll soon connect with future customers.
Practical applications of WebMCP in B2B and B2C scenarios are vast, from simplifying quote requests to expediting inventory checks, offering a seamless experience for business and everyday consumers alike.
To start experimenting with WebMCP, Chrome 146 lets you access it behind a feature flag. It’s still in its nascent stage but provides a valuable chance for developers and innovative teams to play around with the conceptual framework.
While getting acquainted with WebMCP, you’ll need Chrome version 146.0.7672.0 or later and a basic understanding of Chrome flags. Follow these steps to set up:
Navigate to chrome://flags/#enable-webmcp-testing in Chrome.
Set the “WebMCP for testing” flag to “Enabled”.
Relaunch Chrome.
Start experimenting with WebMCP today and perhaps even install the Model Context Tool Inspector Extension to witness WebMCP in action. It’s an exciting era we’re stepping into, enabling websites to be as understandable to AI as they are to us.
