In a courtroom drama straight out of Silicon Valley, OpenAI has shown interest in acquiring one of tech’s biggest prizes—Google’s Chrome browser—if the opportunity arises. During Google’s ongoing antitrust trial, ChatGPT head Nick Turley stated that owning Chrome could deliver a groundbreaking user experience and showcase what an AI-first browser could truly be. Bloomberg analysts have pegged Chrome’s potential value at upwards of $15 billion. Turley took the stand at the request of the U.S. Department of Justice, which is challenging Google’s dominance in the online search space. Reports reveal that Turley testified about OpenAI’s attempt to partner with Google by integrating its search engine into ChatGPT. However, the offer was declined by Google.
The antitrust trial against Google officially kicked off on Monday, centering on the company’s deals with major partners like Apple and Samsung to prioritize its search engine. The case, originally filed in 2020, accuses Google of using these agreements to maintain its dominance in the web browsing and search markets. In August 2024, U.S. Judge Amit Mehta ruled against Google, prompting the company to file an appeal.
During opening remarks, DOJ attorney David Dahlquist declared, “Now is the time to tell Google and all other monopolists… there are consequences when you break the antitrust laws.” In response, Google’s Global Affairs president Kent Walker fired back in a blog post, accusing the DOJ of pursuing a “radical interventionist agenda” that could hurt both American consumers and the country’s leadership in tech.
Meanwhile, OpenAI has been exploring the idea of launching its own browser to rival Chrome. The company even hired former Google engineers Ben Goodger and Darin Fisher—key contributors to the original Chrome project—several months ago.
Turley highlights the potential of integrating ChatGPT with the Chrome browser, suggesting it could provide users with an exceptional and immersive AI experience. If this integration becomes a reality, users will truly experience the power of advanced AI interactions. Currently, OpenAI’s primary challenge is distribution. Although they’ve partnered with Apple to integrate ChatGPT into iPhones, they have yet to achieve the same success with Android devices. Meanwhile, Google is ramping up production of its Pixel smartphones in India, with the Pixel 8 marking the first device manufactured there. The Pixel 8a also follows suit, being assembled locally. Looking ahead, the upcoming Pixel 9 series is expected to be fully produced in India. A recent ET report indicates that Alphabet is considering relocating its global Pixel phone manufacturing to India, driven by new U.S. tariffs on imports from Vietnam. However, Google has yet to make an official announcement regarding this potential move.
