The AI Podcast: "OpenAI Launches Atlas — Here’s How to Use It"

Release Date: October 31, 2025
Host: The AI Podcast

Episode Overview

In this episode, The AI Podcast offers an in-depth, hands-on review of OpenAI's newly launched web browser, ChatGPT Atlas. The host explores how to install Atlas, demonstrates real-world use cases—including advanced workflow automation for podcast production—and compares Atlas to competitors like Google Chrome and Perplexity's Comet browser. The theme centers around Atlas’s unique “Agent Mode,” its strengths and current limitations, and what it could mean for the future of AI-assisted browsing and productivity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

What Is ChatGPT Atlas?

• Atlas is OpenAI’s new web browser, currently available on iOS for Mac.
• Built on Google's open-source Chromium framework.
• All Chrome plugins (ad blockers, password managers, etc.) are supported.

Notable Quote:
"It turns out that this new Atlas browser is just Google Chrome. Google Chrome has an open source project called Chromium and this is what everybody builds on top of… But I will say this is way better than Chrome."
— Host [03:06]

Installation & User Experience

• Download via chatgpt.com/atlas/get-started.
• On install, the default new tab is ChatGPT, providing instant access to conversational AI.

First Impressions:

• The need for an ad blocker became evident compared to the Brave browser.
• Joke on social media: Google's market cap dropped $160B on the Atlas announcement, but rebounded $180B when people realized it’s Chromium-based.
  [02:19]

Agent Mode: The Game-Changer

• Agent Mode: Live sidebar where users can interact with pages using ChatGPT, not just generative text.
  • Can “chat with” or control the page you’re on.
  • Useful for automating complex web tasks.

"[Agent Mode] is actually very useful... you can chat with the page that you’re on and the content on the page that you’re on."
— Host [04:51]

Real-World Example: Podcast Automation

• The host used Atlas Agent Mode to automate podcast episode post-production:

  • Provided a structured script (like an SOP).
  • Atlas was instructed to:
    • Edit podcasts (remove pauses, filler words, enhance audio).
    • Export and schedule episodes to Spotify for Creators.
    • Write episode titles, descriptions, and add custom links.

• Big win: Replacing repetitive tasks usually handled by a studio manager; hints at further possible automation (guest outreach, show management, etc.).

Quote:
"Honestly, that will... save them a lot of time. There's a lot of other tasks they have to do... I think I could actually make scripts or SOPs... describing how the ChatGPT Atlas browser could actually do all of these tasks."
— Host [11:16]

Strengths vs. Previous AI Agents

• Atlas works right within your main browser session:
  • No need to log in again to websites as with virtual ChatGPT agents.
  • Can manipulate pages in real time, acting like a super-assistant.
  • When given access via Agent Mode, it animates a cursor and visually performs tasks.

Quote:
"When it's taken over your browser, I just am logged into a bunch of websites. So when I tell it to go to those websites and do things, it doesn't need to ask for any, like, ability to log in..."
— Host [18:19]

Comparison with Competitors

• Comet by Perplexity: Similar side panel functionality; capable of booking flights and performing web automation.
• The host expects OpenAI to edge ahead in the long run due to resources and speed.

Quote:
"Big kudos to Perplexity’s team for getting Comet out before OpenAI. I think if it came out after, it wouldn’t have seemed quite as cool. But I tried Comet first and it also is pretty good at doing a lot of these different tasks. Somehow I just feel like OpenAI is gonna do it better..."
— Host [27:07]

Limitations and Quirks

• Occasional UI challenges: Sometimes struggles with dynamic elements (e.g., specific hover actions, scrollbars).
• Can be slow compared to manual work, but is persistent:
  • Instead of timing out after a few minutes (unlike old ChatGPT agents), Atlas keeps retrying until it solves the problem or fails definitively.
  • Detailed, explicit multi-step instructions significantly improve performance.

Notable Quotes: "Like, I'm sure some people will try using this and they're like, oh man, it's slow. It's kind of dumb. It's annoying... But if you just give it 20 minutes, it will get the job done."
— Host [36:02]

"The more specific you can make it, the better it will do... My instructions were 'add backlinks to the description section'. I didn’t even tell it... it just figured that out."
— Host [39:19]

Advanced Use Case: Contract Comparison

• The host task for Atlas: Compare contracts from three podcast hosting companies.
  • Atlas read multiple open Gmail threads and long legal agreements.
  • It summarized and tabulated differences in cost, ad fill rates, and projected earnings.

Efficiency:

• Previously possible, but laborious, via ChatGPT (manual copy/paste/upload).
• Now: Atlas can access all necessary context directly by seeing your open tabs.

Quote:
"You just tell it, look, I have everything you need, open all my tabs, read through it all, make this thing, it will just go and do it all for you."
— Host [44:09]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Chrome’s User Base:
  "Google Chrome has more than 3 billion users around the globe... OpenAI has 800 million weekly active users...that probably overlaps with Chrome, but that's like a third of Chrome."
  — Host [23:41]

• Atlas’ Persistence:
  "It seems like it just keeps going and going until it actually gets the job done, or until it comes to like some sort of conclusion, which is quite useful ..."
  — Host [38:16]

• On Workflow Automation:
  "If I can come up with an automation, I don’t care if it could take it, like, you know, it could take it four hours... as long as I can get like 20 of these things done at once... and it does them all correctly."
  — Host [37:32]

• Realism about AI Flaws:
  "I did see a glitch earlier where... it couldn't figure out how to scroll on the popup... but… it took a screenshot and sure enough it retried again and it was able to get the scroll bar and scroll correctly."
  — Host [35:56]

Timestamps of Key Segments

• [00:01] — Introduction to Atlas and initial impressions
• [03:06] — How Atlas is built (Chromium base, plugin compatibility)
• [04:51] — Agent Mode explained
• [08:52] — Real podcast automation example
• [12:44] — Discussion on automating broader producer tasks
• [18:19] — Benefits of Atlas vs. ChatGPT agents (login/session)
• [23:41] — Chrome vs. Atlas vs. Comet (user bases and competition)
• [27:07] — Comet by Perplexity: kudos and comparison
• [35:56] — Atlas debugging itself (scrollbar bug example)
• [36:02] — On speed, reliability, and how specificity matters
• [39:19] — Instruction specificity: “The more specific, the better”
• [44:09] — Contract comparison and summarization workflow

Summary & Takeaways

• ChatGPT Atlas represents a leap forward for AI-integrated browsing, turning the browser into a proactive assistant.
• Agent Mode stands out for its ability to carry out complex, multi-step tasks across any website using natural language and direct interaction.
• The system excels especially when given clear, granular instructions, but still struggles occasionally with unusual or hidden UI elements.
• While not perfect or instant, Atlas can reliably automate laborious tasks—freeing up user time.
• OpenAI’s approach to web automation feels more persistent and user-integrated than earlier agent models, and is directly competitive with newer AI browsers in the space.
• For productivity-focused users, especially content creators and professionals, Atlas could remove significant daily friction.

Memorable Final Thought:
"This is leaps and bounds... I used to pay $200 a month for ChatGPT operator and then it got pulled into ChatGPT agents. Neither of those could do it. And I feel like this browser is the first time it could actually do it."
— Host [41:46]

Recommendations

• For power users: Start experimenting with automating repetitive workflows through Atlas Agent Mode; write explicit, step-by-step instructions.
• For Chrome users: Try transferring plugins and sessions to Atlas for seamless migration.
• For productivity seekers: Consider using Atlas for complex information-gathering, content creation, and cross-website workflows.
• Watch for: Improvements in speed, UI robustness, and deeper workflow automation over time.