Usage

ChatGPT Atlas is a GUI desktop browser. All interaction happens through the application window. There is no CLI or SDK.

Basic Web Navigation

Type a standard URL in the address bar to navigate directly to a page, exactly as you would in Chrome or Firefox:

https://example.com

AI Prompt Mode (Default Behavior)

When you type a natural language query instead of a URL, Atlas returns an AI-generated synthesized response rather than a search results page:

best battery life laptops 2025

The response looks like a web page but is produced by ChatGPT from its training data. It may contain footnotes linking to real sources, but the primary output is AI-generated content. Expect results to lag conventional search by several weeks in freshness.

Navigating to Real Web Content

To force Atlas to search the actual web and return real links, prefix your query explicitly:

search the web for: best battery life laptops 2025

Or navigate directly to a search engine URL:

https://www.google.com/search?q=best+battery+life+laptops+2025

Using the Ask ChatGPT Sidebar

With the sidebar open, you can ask questions about the current page you are viewing. The sidebar sends a summary of the page to OpenAI servers and returns an AI answer:

1. Open any website in Atlas.
2. Click the ChatGPT sidebar icon in the toolbar.
3. Type a question such as: Summarize the main argument on this page.

Agentic Task Mode (Plus / Pro)

Atlas can perform multi-step tasks autonomously. Phrase requests as natural language goals. Be precise about dates, origins, and constraints because the agent will not always ask for clarification:

search web history for a doc about atlas core design

find a direct flight from JFK to LAX on December 15 for one adult and show me the options

The agent will navigate airline sites, fill in search fields, and surface booking options. It does not complete purchases without your confirmation step.

Browser History Search

You can search your own browsing history using plain language:

search my history for google docs about budget

Atlas will search local browser history rather than generating a response from training data. Confirm that the result is a real document before acting on it -- the agent can hallucinate file names.

Settings Reference

Setting	Location	Notes
Browser Memories	Settings > Personalization > Reference browser memories	Opt-in; sends browsing data to OpenAI for personalization
Ask ChatGPT sidebar default	Settings > Sidebar	Toggle auto-open behavior
Extensions	Settings > Extensions	Supports Chromium-compatible extensions