The battle for your browser begins

Author

Noel Moldvai
October 23, 2025

TL;DR. OpenAI just launched its boldest product yet, an AI-powered web browser built around ChatGPT and designed to challenge Google Search. At the same time, Sam Altman’s new venture, World, wants to scan your eyes with an Orb to prove you’re human in a world full of AI deepfakes. As all this plays out, Meta continues to poach top talent while the battle for AI dominance intensifies.

OpenAI’s new AI-powered browser designed to take down Google search’s empire

OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Atlas, a browser with ChatGPT built-in. It acts like a super-assistant that understands your web activity, remembers context, automates tasks, and even clicks around the internet for you. Available now on macOS, Atlas is OpenAI’s boldest move yet to reinvent how we use the web.

Sam Altman wants to scan your eyes to verify you’re human

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s latest venture, World, has introduced a new Orb that scans your iris to confirm you’re a real person. The project aims to solve the growing problem of bots and deepfakes by creating a global human verification system. It also hints at a future where AI-generated wealth could be shared with verified users. Despite its ambition, World is already facing pushback from regulators and privacy advocates.

Apple loses another AI exec to Meta

Ke Yang, the executive leading Apple’s AI search efforts, has left for Meta, joining a growing exodus of AI talent. With a major Siri upgrade on the horizon, Apple’s AI team is shrinking just as it needs to compete more aggressively in the AI search race against OpenAI, Google, and Perplexity.

Augment Raises Series A

We’re thrilled to share that Augment has raised a $12M Series A led by Builders VC, with participation from Neo, Golden Section, E1 Ventures, Corp Capital, and OPCO Ventures.

Alongside the raise, we’ve unveiled a new look that reflects the conviction behind our mission. This next chapter is about more than just capital. It is about building the fastest, simplest way to buy and sell shares in private companies.

Make private markets liquid and accessible. Own the future. 🚀

👉 Read the full announcement

Quick Takes

Cheerio! Until next week.
-Noel