The new browser will debut in the next few weeks, as confirmed by three individuals familiar with the project, and seeks to employ artificial intelligence to revolutionize consumer web browsing experiences, Reuters reported. This development would provide OpenAI with more immediate access to a fundamental element of Google's success – user data collection.

Should OpenAI's 400 million weekly active ChatGPT users embrace this browser, it could significantly impact a crucial element of Google's advertising revenue stream, sources told Reuters. Chrome serves as a vital foundation for Alphabet's advertising operations, which generate nearly three-quarters of the company's total revenue, by supplying user information that enables Alphabet to target advertisements more effectively and profitably while directing search traffic to Google's own search engine as the default option.

The OpenAI browser will be engineered to maintain certain user interactions within a ChatGPT-style native chat interface rather than requiring users to navigate through traditional websites, two sources revealed.

This browser development forms part of OpenAI's comprehensive strategy to integrate its services throughout consumers' personal and professional digital experiences, one source explained.

OpenAI chose not to provide commentary on the matter.

The sources requested anonymity because they lack authorization to discuss the matter publicly.

Under entrepreneur Sam Altman's leadership, OpenAI transformed the technology industry with its AI chatbot ChatGPT's debut in late 2022. Following its initial triumph, OpenAI has encountered intense competition from competitors including Google and startup Anthropic, prompting the company to explore new growth opportunities.

OpenAI announced its entry into the hardware sector in May, investing $6.5 billion to acquire io, an AI devices startup founded by Apple's former design chief, Jony Ive.

A web browser would enable OpenAI to seamlessly incorporate its AI agent products, such as Operator, into the browsing experience, allowing the browser to execute tasks on users' behalf, sources indicated.

The browser's ability to access user web activity would establish it as the optimal platform for AI "agents" capable of performing actions on users' behalf, such as making reservations or completing forms, directly within the websites they frequent.

Tough competition

OpenAI faces significant challenges ahead – Google Chrome, utilized by more than 3 billion individuals, currently commands over two-thirds of the global browser market, according to web analytics company StatCounter. Apple's second-ranked Safari trails considerably with a 16% market share. OpenAI reported 3 million paying business users for ChatGPT last month.

Additional AI startups including The Browser Company and Brave have introduced AI-powered browsers capable of executing actions on users' behalf this year. Perplexity, a well-funded startup recognized for its search engine, also launched its AI browser, Comet, on Wednesday.

Chrome's function in supplying user information to help Alphabet target advertisements more effectively and profitably has proven so successful that the Department of Justice has demanded its divestiture after a US judge ruled last year that the Google parent maintains an unlawful monopoly in online search.

OpenAI's browser operates on Chromium, Google's open-source browser code, two sources confirmed. Chromium serves as the source code for Google Chrome and numerous competing browsers including Microsoft's Edge and Opera.

OpenAI recruited two veteran Google vice presidents last year who were members of the original team that created Google Chrome. The Information first reported their hiring and that OpenAI previously contemplated building a browser.

An OpenAI executive testified in April that the company would consider purchasing Chrome if antitrust enforcers succeeded in forcing the sale.

Google has not made Chrome available for sale. The company has stated it plans to appeal the ruling that it maintains a monopoly.

OpenAI chose to develop its own browser rather than simply creating a "plug-in" for another company's browser to maintain greater control over the data it can collect, one source stated.

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The Israeli team – consisting of four 10th graders, all new immigrants – finished the 20th International Linguistics Olympiad, which took place last week in Bulgaria, with a bronze medal for Mikhail Iomdin - a 16-year-old boy who immigrated to Israel from Moscow a mere year and a half ago.

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This is the first time in over a decade that Israel has sent a delegation to the competition, in which 38 countries and 50 national teams participated, as well as the first time an Israeli competitor won a medal. 

Video: Special shop for new immigrants from Ukraine. Credit: Gil Eliyahu

The team only made it to the championship thanks to a crowdfunding campaign launched by the youngsters who were determined to compete but did not have the support of local authorities. 

Their campaign went viral and garnered widespread support, especially among olim. Together with funding from other sponsors - two new immigrant teachers and the performance agency Gradientt – the team raised the funds necessary.

Iomdin and his fellow team members skipped out on fun activities during the summer holiday and instead devoted their time to o intense preparation for the competition, determined to return with a medal. 

Although Iomdin only immigrated to Israel about a year and a half ago, he speaks fluent Hebrew and cited his ability to understand the structure and rules of language as key to learning them fast. 

"You don't need to know all the languages, you just need logic. It's like solving math equations. You need to know how to look at the text and the sentences, even if it's a language you've never heard of before."

Next year's International Linguistics Olympiad will be held in Brazil, with hopes that the Israeli team will receive the necessary support from the state and send a larger team to the competition. Iomdin, in turn, hopes to qualify for the national team and make Israel proud by winning another medal. 

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CyTaka cybersecurity firm announced Wednesday the launch of its gamified cybersecurity-focused coding education and training competition for software developers with a monthly prize of $1 million.

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When CyTaka CEO Doron Amir came up with the idea for the competition, he had one goal in mind: to make the world safer, more secured and connected not by going after the threat actors but by preventing the code vulnerabilities that give them easy targets.

"We want to create 'cyber heroes,'" he explained. "It's time to change the global celebrity culture from brawn and beauty to brains. Our goal is to find the smartest people in the software development world and bring them the fame and glory they deserve."

In the first stage of the competition, participants are required to complete challenges via the CyTaka app. Those who make it to the live competition will be able to vie for the $1 million monthly prize. The first such live competition will be held on Aug. 15 in Dubai.

The competition "resets" every month, so less experienced participants have a chance to succeed.

"CyTaka is a living, breathing, and ever-evolving application, creating a comprehensive learning environment," Amir said. "Our participants will be exposed to the latest developments and trends in cybersecurity that will allow them to continuously keep up to date, enhancing their professional knowledge.

"Training them to be exceptionally security-aware and strengthening their focus on writing safer, stronger, less vulnerable code will directly address the cybersecurity crisis," he said

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