The Battle for the Browser (and the Future of Agentic AI)
Chrome rules the web today. But a new wave of AI-powered browsers is forming—and they’re coming for the throne. You’d better be ready.
There’s one quote I still can’t forget from strategy class:
“In platform wars, you want to be as close to the user as possible—otherwise, someone else will get between you.”
Google got that. And they played it perfectly.
Back in 2008, alongside dominating online search and ads, they quietly launched two free products that would become practically invisible infrastructure: Chrome and Android.
With those moves, they locked down the user interface. They parked themselves right between you and the web—leaving no room for other platforms to sneak in.
▶︎ So when I read this headline yesterday, alarm bells went off:
OpenAI is reportedly working on its own browser to compete with Chrome. (source)
This isn’t just another product release.
This could actually work. This time, someone could go head-to-head with Google.
Why now?
Because the moment is right. The shift is real. And it’s being powered by something we’re just beginning to understand:
Agentic AI.
Agentic AI is artificial intelligence that can act independently toward a goal.
No step-by-step prompts. No hand-holding. It just… figures it out.
It can research. Write emails. Automate workflows. Book things. All without you micromanaging every click.
Think: less “tool” and more “self-starting assistant.”
And here’s the twist: it’s going to live in your browser.
And not just there—but let’s focus on browsers for a second, because this matters more than it seems.
Let’s talk browsers.
Quick gut check:
How many hours a day do you spend working in browser tabs?
And how many of those tabs live inside Google Chrome?
For me? All of them.
Your browser is your workspace.
And chances are, that browser is Chrome.
Taking Chrome down is no small feat. Google has had a 15-year head start, 3 billion users, and owns roughly 68% of the market.
But if anything could rattle that empire, it’s a browser that rethinks everything around a seamless integration with agentic AI.
Not AI slapped on top.
We’re talking a total reset of how the browser works.
Let’s get into it.
What could an agentic browser actually do?
Picture a browser built from the ground up with AI like ChatGPT baked in. One that:
Finds and filters content for you, skipping the junk, the ads, the chaos.
Manages multiple tabs and tasks simultaneously, like a behind-the-scenes assistant squad.
Knows you—your preferences, payment methods, calendar. Not in a creepy way. In a “don’t ask me that again, you already know” way.
Just works, out of the box. No endless settings, no tech savviness required. Clean onboarding → mass adoption.
Your browser will know you.
It’ll remember your addresses, your shirt size, your wife’s birthday, your go-to airlines, your usual lunch order—and it’ll act on all that without being told twice.
Let me be blunt:
▶︎ This new kind of browser will…
Write your emails
Buy your stuff
Book your travel, dinners, haircuts
Run your calendar
Fill in your CRM and expense reports
Draft your LinkedIn posts
Maybe even swipe right on your behalf
Now that’s a revolution.
And just like platforms will battle for this new interface, digital pros who move early will earn an edge others can’t easily catch up to.
Wanna be one of them? Here’s your homework.
What should you do now?
Personally, I’m not watching this from the sidelines. I’m in.
My focus? Agentic AI applied to eCommerce—from both sides:
How sellers will use it to sell faster, better, and with less stress.
How buyers will completely change how they shop.
This is not going to be a small shift.
And yes, those who prepare now will be very hard to beat later.
Here are four places to start exploring the world of agentic browsers—and what they mean for the future of online commerce:
1 // Try COMET, Perplexity’s new browser
There’s a waitlist—unless you’re on their highest-tier plan—but it’s worth jumping in. Join here
2 // Explore MANUS , a general-purpose AI agent
Think less “ask for stuff” and more “delegate outcomes.” It’s action-oriented and shows its steps along the way. Start here
3 // Upgrade to ChatGPT Plus, if you haven’t
When OpenAI launches its browser, early adopters will benefit. Pricing here
4 // Feeling dystopian? Watch Opera Neon’s concept videos
Yes, Opera still exists—and they’re swinging big with weird ideas. Watch here
You’ve got some exploring to do.
And if you want to swap notes, I’m all ears. Ping me in the chat.
In The EcommLetter, we’re going deep on everything that intersects
AI + eCommerce.
And this? This is going to be huge.
Catch you soon,
Pablo Renaud