Google before breaking up? Openai signals interest in taking on Google Chrome! Google's search monopoly in danger?

Published on: April 23, 2025 / update from: April 23, 2025 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

Google before breaking up? Openai signals interest in taking on Google Chrome! Google's search monopoly in danger? - Image: Xpert.digital

Openai: Takeover of Chrome browser as a strategic coup?

Cartel procedure against Google: Openai signals interest in Chrome

Openai has surprisingly expressed interest in a potential takeover of the Chrome browser in an ongoing antitrust process against Google. Nick Turley, Product Head of Chatgpt, said on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, before a Washington court that the AI company would be seriously interested in an acquisition if Google should be forced to sell the popular web browser due to antitrust requirements. This statement was carried out as part of a procedure in which the US Ministry of Justice demands extensive measures to break up Google's monopoly in the search engine market and to restore the competition.

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Background of the cartel procedure against Google

The current procedure is based on a judgment from last year in which a federal judge found that Google has a monopoly in searching online and the associated advertising. Judge Amit Mehta had judged that the technology giant has expanded and consolidated its dominant position through exclusive contracts with device manufacturers such as Samsung. These contracts for which Google pays around $ 26 billion annually, according to court documents, secure the company to set up its search engine on new devices.

The U.S. Ministry of Justice is now calling for drastic measures, including the forced sale of the Chrome browser, which dominates the browser landscape with about 66 percent market share. Further proposed measures include the opening of Google's search data for competitors and the ban on lucrative payments for the preferred pre-installation of Google services. So far, Google itself has not offered Chrome for sale nor a willingness to do so and is planning instead to appeal against the monopoly judgment.

Openais strategic interest in Chrome

Nick Turley's statement before the Washington Court illustrates the strategic importance that Openai attaches a potential chrome takeover. On the direct question of whether Openaai would be interested in a purchase, Turley replied: "Yes, that would be, like many other parties". In his statement, he emphasized that a deeper integration of Chrome in Openaai could enable “a really incredible experience” and show users “what a AI-oriented browser could look like”.

For Openai, the acquisition of Chrome would be a significant strategic step to bring his AI technology more directly to users. Browsers act as a central interface to the Internet and offer an ideal platform for the integration of AI assistants such as chatt. Chrome could significantly strengthen its position in the competition for the next generation of Internet interaction and at the same time get access to valuable user data.

The failed cooperation offer to Google

A particularly revealing aspect in Turley's testimony affected an earlier range of cooperation from Openai on Google. In July 2023, Openai had contacted Google after there were problems with his search partner at the time. In a email presented in court, Openai suggested that "several partners and especially Google's API would enable users to offer a better product".

Google rejected this offer in August 2023 on the grounds that such a cooperation "would include too many competitors". Turley commented on this process with the words: "We have no partnership with Google today". Instead, Chatgpt is currently using the search technology from Microsoft's search engine Bing, but does not seem to be completely satisfied with it. In his testimony, Turley indicated that Openai was confronted with “significant quality problems” with the current provider.

The importance of search technology for chatgpt

A central topic in Turley's statement was the crucial role that search technology plays for Chatgpt's performance. He explained that the search was "an important part of chatt" in order to "provide current and factual answers to user inquiries". While Openai is working on its own search technology, Turley admitted that it would be “still taking years” before Chatgpt could cover 80 percent of inquiries with its own search.

Turley's indication was particularly revealing that the US Ministry of Justice's proposal to force Google to open its search data for competitors could "accelerate" the development of chatt. This underlines how valuable Google's search data could be for improving AI language models. Access to current, high-quality search results is of crucial importance for AI assistants such as Chatgpt in order to be able to provide precise and timely information.

Openais existing browser ambitions

The company's takeover interests from Openai on Chrome are in the context of already known browser ambitions of the company. According to reports, Openai has been working on its own web browser for some time that could challenge Google's Chrome. These plans were reinforced by the hiring of two former Google engineers involved in the development of Chrome.

The “Operator” project, which was presented in January 2025, offers a first insight into Openais browser ambitions. With the help of an integrated cloud browser, this AI agent can independently do multi-stage tasks, such as performing table reservations in restaurants or making online purchases. Operator can interpret websites, analyze screenshots and use functions of the mouse and keyboard to operate websites-an important step towards a full AI-controlled browser.

The development of your own browser would enable Openai to deepen your chattt technology deeper and offer a seamless AI experience. With the Chrome acquisition, the company could accelerate this process considerably and immediately receive access to a huge user base.

Effects on the tech competition

A forced sale of Chrome and the potential takeover by Openai would have far -reaching effects on the competition in the technology sector. Google Chrome is currently dominating the browser market with around 66 percent market share, and many competing browsers such as Microsoft Edge, Brave or Opera are based on Google's Chromium platform.

The public prosecutor said in its opening plea, that “Google's search monopoly could give the company advantages in the field of AI and that its AI products were another opportunity to lead users to his search engine”. This illustrates the close link between search services, browsers and emerging AI technologies.

Interestingly, Google has recently loosened its exclusive contracts with partners such as Samsung, Motorola and the network operators AT&T and Verizon and allowed them to install competing searches. These non-exclusive agreements meet Google's idea of how the changes required by the court could not go far enough for the Ministry of Justice.

Parallels to historical antitrust processes

The current procedure is reminiscent of the historical Microsoft process of the 1990s, when the software giant was charged with its monopoly on the operating system market and bundling the Internet Explorer browser. At that time, the court even considered a split from Microsoft, but ultimately decided on less drastic measures.

The US procedure could also be found in the European Union. The Digital Markets Act, which came into force in early 2024, also provides for the possibility of a forced sale. Former EU Commissioner Margrethe Vestager had initially considered that for Google's advertising business, but was then limited to behavior-related measures.

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Openai's interest in Chrome: Transformation of the digital infrastructure as a turning point for AI and digital platforms?

Openai's interest in a potential takeover of Google Chrome marks a significant moment in the changing technology ecosystem. It underlines the increasing convergence of web browsers, search engines and AI technologies as well as the intensive competition between established tech giants and emerging AI companies.

Whether Chrome will actually be sold remains uncertain in view of Google's appeal plans and the complex legal situation. Some observers consider the statements of Openaai with skepticism and speculate that the question of taking over could have been more rhetorical.

Regardless of the outcome of the procedure, the situation illustrates the fundamental change in the tech landscape: More and more people are using Chatgpt and similar AI services to search for information, while social platforms such as Instagram and Tikok take on increasingly advisory functions. In this changing environment, the integration of advanced AI into web browser-be it through a new Openai browser or by taking over Chrome-the way we interact with the Internet.

The antitrust procedure against Google and Openai's takeover interest in Chrome illustrates the continued struggle for the control of the digital infrastructure and the central role that AI will play in the future of the Internet. The decisions made in this procedure could not only determine the future of Google's Chrome browser, but also have far-reaching effects on the entire technology market.

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