OpenAI Says It Would Buy Google’s Chrome Browser If Court Forces a Sale

[Gigabyte Computer Solutions]

OpenAI could be eyeing a major expansion—by buying Google’s Chrome browser.

Nick Turley, head of ChatGPT at OpenAI, said on Tuesday that the company would be interested in purchasing Chrome if a federal court orders Google to sell it. Turley made the statement while testifying in a high-profile antitrust trial involving Google.

“Yes, we would, as would many other parties,” Turley said in response to whether OpenAI would consider acquiring Chrome.

The trial, brought by the U.S. Department of Justice, is focused on how Google allegedly monopolized the online search market. One of the proposed remedies from the DOJ is that Google be forced to divest Chrome, its popular web browser. A final decision from Judge Amit Mehta is expected by August.

Why OpenAI Wants Chrome
Turley explained that owning Chrome would allow OpenAI to offer a more seamless and powerful experience to users of ChatGPT, which currently operates as a browser extension in Chrome.

“You could offer a really incredible experience,” he said. “We would have the ability to introduce users into what an AI-first experience looks like.”

Turley also highlighted a key challenge OpenAI faces: distribution. While ChatGPT is being integrated into Apple’s iPhones, the company has struggled to gain ground on Android devices, partly due to Google’s dominance.

‘We May Be Shut Out’
Turley voiced concerns that larger tech companies, like Google, are limiting competition by controlling how users discover new products—through browsers and app stores.

“I have deep worry that we may be shut out,” Turley said. “Real choice drives competition. Users should be able to pick.”

Earlier in the hearing, it was revealed that Google has been paying Samsung to pre-install its own Gemini AI app on devices—a deal that has made it even harder for competitors like OpenAI to negotiate similar partnerships.

A Landmark Decision Could Be Coming
If Judge Mehta orders Google to sell off Chrome, it would mark the first court-ordered breakup of a major U.S. tech company since AT&T’s antitrust split in the 1980s.

The DOJ’s broader proposals also include requiring Google to:

Share search data with rivals
Stop paying for exclusive placements on devices and apps
Google argues these changes would hurt consumers and harm American tech innovation.

OpenAI’s ChatGPT, launched in 2022, now boasts more than 400 million weekly users, according to the company. Turley said the company has already surpassed its 2024 user goals.

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