OpenAI could buy Google Chrome, says Sam Altman — but only if this happens

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has expressed the company's keen interest in acquiring Google Chrome, contingent on a potential sale mandated by the U.S. government. This revelation follows a report from the Wall Street Journal indicating that Perplexity AI had previously proposed a staggering $34.5 billion cash offer to purchase the browser from Alphabet. This interest comes on the heels of a significant antitrust ruling against Google, where a judge determined that the tech giant had engaged in illegal monopolistic practices within the online search sector. As a remedy, the Department of Justice has suggested divesting Chrome to ensure a more competitive environment. In a statement to the media, Altman remarked, "If Chrome is really going to sell, we should take a look at it." He further noted his skepticism, adding, "Is it actually going to sell? I assumed it wasn’t gonna happen." In addition to exploring the acquisition of Chrome, OpenAI is reportedly developing its own AI-driven browser. Altman revealed that the recent appointment of Fidji Simo as CEO of Applications signifies the company's commitment to expanding its portfolio beyond ChatGPT, potentially into consumer applications. Moreover, Altman has conveyed OpenAI's ambitions to venture into a new social media platform, expressing dissatisfaction with current AI implementations in social media. He stated, "There is nothing inspiring to me about how AI is used on social media today," while pondering the possibility of creating a more engaging social experience powered by AI. Additionally, OpenAI is set to support Merge Labs, a neural interface startup, as a competitor to Elon Musk’s Neuralink. Altman expressed his enthusiasm for neural interfaces, envisioning a future where individuals could think of a query and receive a response from ChatGPT. The competition between Musk and Altman has intensified, particularly regarding perceived biases in app rankings, with Musk accusing Apple of favoring ChatGPT while Altman critiqued the amplification of Musk's tweets on X. Stay tuned for more updates on developments in the tech industry.