ChatGPT Browser - When privacy is no longer on the menu

I was thinking … why would OpenAI, creators of chatGPT would want to create a new browser? Was there any need on the market for another one? Even though it was presented as a revolutionary product, with features which will change the way you browse the web, the truth is that is much simpler than that. It was built on the chromium platform integrating peoples “favorite chat agent“ within the interface. And that agent listens, memorizes and helps you with all your daily needs. Isn’t that just great? :)

Data, the gold of the XX1 century. It seems more and more necessary to protect it all our power as counterreaction to the attack on privacy launched by the big corporations like Microsoft, OpenAI and so on.

Compared with the reaction for feature launched from Microsoft called Microsoft Recall, in which everyone raised their pitch forks and shouted “This needs to stop!“, for the Atlas Browser the reaction was somewhat underwhelming. The two are very similar: complete transparency. For Microsoft Recall, transparency with your computer, searches, calendar, everything. For Atlas Browser, the web search, passwords, browsing, also everything. Before starting a discussion, let me be clear, DO NOT install Atlas Browser. It is a huge step back in topic of data privacy.

The open question is why do they launched it in the first place? In order to collect everything there is about you. Let me explain… You are now using chat GPT as your companion. Some of us are using it for easy tasks like explaining of searching something, others have extended it’s functionality in all aspects of their life. To make reservations, get the best plane tickets and so on. But still, the agent was being used in it’s own account which he learned and provided support to. With the introduction of Atlas Browser, you are taking that agent and make it part of your life. The step in delegating it to make everything automatically using agents for you is very small. Maybe some will argue it sounds cool, and it might be the case, but what do you renounce for a few cool things, is of highest importance. Your entire privacy goes down the drain. It is again one of those “free“ things that you get, but lose so much in the process.

A second disadvantage is simply the fact that the browser is very slow. You are getting responses from google directly in milliseconds compared with some searches which last minutes on Atlas Browser. I was a bit surprised by this, because I thought when coming with such requests of data collecting, they would at least have a fully polished product released.

Am I against AI by saying this? No, not at all. I believe that AI has the capacity of elevating our life’s and could bring an Utopia to our society through it’s many use cases. That would be possible, if regulations will apply and we will take care that everyone who gets his/her job displaced by automation, will have another option available to support their families. One argument which is thrown in the discussion each time job displacements are being addressed, is that AI also creates and equally number of jobs.

That I believe is a very false statement, even excluding “equally number of“. Yes, there are new jobs created but the sheer number of positions opened will be reduced to a fraction. Statements like “If Jobs Gets Wiped Out, Maybe They Weren’t Even “Real Work” to Start With“ from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are very concerning as they are proof that the implications of the societal changes which AI will bring, are not of his concern. They will become the government concern especially when we will talk about xxx thousands of people.

Coming back to the Atlas Browser. Please look and analyze also the Return of investment you will get when you are going this route. Is it something which will benefit you on the long run and how? Take care of your data and your privacy, as we live in a time where more and more the hunt for it is becoming more visible.

Until next time, TFG