OpenAI could be quietly working on its next big leap beyond ChatGPT. According to new code discoveries in the ChatGPT web app, the company seems to be developing an AI-powered web browser internally referred to as “Aura.” While OpenAI has yet to make an official announcement, references to Aura and related browser-specific elements were recently spotted by a developer, giving tech watchers a closer glimpse into what might be coming next from the AI pioneer.
The name “Aura” was found multiple times in the source code of ChatGPT’s web interface. These mentions were not isolated. They appeared alongside technical terms related to Android Chrome, layout behaviors, and user environment detection. One particularly revealing phrase was “Aura sidebar,” which suggests that OpenAI’s upcoming browser might include a built-in chatbot panel, likely powered by ChatGPT, that acts as a constant assistant while you browse.
This smart sidebar could allow users to highlight text, ask follow-up questions, summarize web pages, or even get real-time suggestions and insights as they explore the internet. Imagine having a research assistant baked directly into your browser, offering answers and summaries without switching tabs or copy-pasting into ChatGPT.
Engineer Tibor Blaho, who first surfaced these findings, noted how the presence of strings like “is Aura” and “in Aura” appear in the same context as references to Android devices and browser environments. These types of identifiers are typically used to distinguish user platforms. But the consistent appearance of the word Aura in this context points toward a dedicated experience being built around it.
In earlier reports, there were whispers that OpenAI was planning to launch an AI-native web browser powered by its in-house search engine. This is the same engine that now supports web browsing inside ChatGPT for premium users. If Aura is indeed that browser, it could be built using Chromium as its foundation, much like Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge, but with ChatGPT at the heart of every interaction.
The Aura browser could potentially redefine how we approach online information. Instead of relying solely on links and blue text results, users might be able to browse in a more conversational and intelligent way. With a natural language assistant always at hand, the browser could summarize long articles, compare sources, or guide users through complex research tasks without overwhelming them.
While the official release date for Aura is still unknown, insiders suggest that OpenAI may be planning to unveil it within the next few weeks. This would mark a significant step forward for the company, shifting from an AI tool accessed through a chat interface to an integrated browser experience where AI is embedded directly into how we navigate the internet.
If launched, Aura could challenge established browsers not by replacing them feature-for-feature, but by offering a fundamentally smarter, more context-aware browsing experience. It could also further OpenAI’s mission of making intelligence more accessible, weaving assistance into the very fabric of our daily online habits.
Until OpenAI confirms anything, Aura remains a code name and a concept. But the clues are stacking up, and if the leaks are accurate, the AI browser wars might just be about to begin.
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