OpenAI has revealed a potential ambition to acquire Google’s Chrome browser if U.S. regulators force Alphabet Inc. to part with it as part of ongoing antitrust actions. This interest emerged during a landmark antitrust trial currently underway in Washington, D.C., where the Department of Justice (DOJ) is intensifying efforts to dismantle Google’s dominance in the online search and digital advertising sectors.

During his testimony on Tuesday, Nick Turley, Head of Product for ChatGPT at OpenAI, confirmed that the company would seriously consider purchasing Chrome should the court mandate its sale. This development comes as the DOJ urges the court to impose structural changes on Google, including possible divestitures, to restore fair competition in the tech industry.

Google’s Monopoly and Legal Pushback

Although Google has not offered Chrome for sale, the company has vowed to appeal the court’s earlier ruling, which concluded that it maintains an unlawful monopoly in the search and advertising markets. The DOJ argues that this dominance gives Google excessive influence over online traffic, advertising revenues, and—more recently—artificial intelligence development.

The DOJ’s proposed remedies aim to weaken this stronghold by targeting core components of Google’s ecosystem, including Chrome, Search, and its advertising infrastructure.

OpenAI’s Motivation: Strengthening Search Integration

Explaining OpenAI’s interest in Chrome, Turley pointed to search functionality as a critical capability for improving ChatGPT. He revealed that the company had attempted to collaborate with Google in July 2023, seeking access to Google’s powerful search APIs after OpenAI’s existing search partnerships fell short in delivering high-quality, real-time data.

“We told Google that access to its API would allow us to build a better user experience,” Turley said, referring to an internal email shown in court. However, Google rejected the proposal in August, citing concerns that sharing its search infrastructure would empower too many competitors.

Turley emphasized that OpenAI has no existing partnership with Google, highlighting the barriers smaller players face in gaining access to the dominant search platform. He also stated that if regulators compel Google to share its search data more broadly, ChatGPT would benefit greatly, especially in offering timely and accurate responses to user queries.

Search Is Still a Work in Progress for ChatGPT

While ChatGPT remains one of the most advanced AI tools available, Turley admitted during testimony that the model is still “years away” from independently managing 80% of search queries without external search tools. Currently, ChatGPT relies heavily on real-time data sources to answer questions about current events, factual details, or time-sensitive information.

Therefore, access to a powerful tool like Chrome or Google Search would significantly enhance the platform’s capabilities, allowing OpenAI to offer more precise and trustworthy outputs.

Regulators Concerned About AI and Search Consolidation

The trial has also raised alarm over Google’s potential to extend its monopoly into the artificial intelligence space. Prosecutors warn that as Google integrates AI into its products, including its Gemini AI app and Search, it may further entrench its control by redirecting users back into its ecosystem.

Evidence presented in court showed that Google had once considered making exclusive preinstallation deals not only for Search but also for its Gemini AI platform and Chrome browser. These deals could have ensured that Google’s apps remained the default across millions of mobile devices.

Although the company eventually abandoned these exclusivity plans, opting instead for more open partnerships with hardware manufacturers like Samsung and Motorola, and mobile carriers such as AT&T and Verizon, regulators argue that Google’s broader strategy still reflects anti-competitive behavior.

The DOJ Pushes for Stronger Remedies

In response to Google’s defense, which points to the existence of competitors like Meta and Microsoft, the DOJ remains firm in its call for stronger corrective measures. One of the DOJ’s key demands is to ban Google from paying companies to preinstall its search engine as the default—an approach that has long given Google an advantage in shaping user behavior from the moment a device is activated.

Judge Amit Mehta, who previously ruled against Google’s business practices, cited the tech giant’s extensive use of exclusive deals, particularly with Samsung, as a major contributor to its monopoly in search. His findings have now set the stage for a new round of deliberations focused on the appropriate remedies.

What Chrome Means for OpenAI

If regulators compel Alphabet to sell Chrome, OpenAI’s interest could mark a historic shift in browser ownership. Chrome, the world’s most widely used web browser, commands more than 60% of global market share. For OpenAI, owning Chrome could unlock a direct path to integrating its AI tools with everyday internet use—dramatically expanding the reach and utility of ChatGPT.

Such a move would also place OpenAI in direct competition with Microsoft’s Edge and Bing, both of which currently serve as ChatGPT’s primary search partners.

Looking Ahead: Major Tech Reshuffling Possible

As the antitrust case against Google unfolds, the tech landscape could undergo significant realignment. If courts adopt the DOJ’s proposals, Alphabet may be forced to restructure key components of its business, potentially reshaping the balance of power among major AI and search players.

For OpenAI, the opportunity to acquire Chrome would represent not just an expansion into browser technology, but a strategic leap into controlling the future of AI-powered internet access.

Whether this scenario becomes reality depends largely on how the courts respond to the DOJ’s push to dismantle Google’s empire—and whether OpenAI will be ready to capitalize on the moment if Chrome hits the open market.