OpenAI updates ChatGPT Chrome extension to read and control browser tabs

On October 15, 2026, OpenAI released an update for its official Google Chrome extension that allows the model to interact directly with open browser tabs. The tool analyzes the content of active pages when the user enters the @chrome tag within the ChatGPT web or desktop applications, enabling data extraction without the need for manual copying.

This change in the company's ecosystem follows the withdrawal of ChatGPT Atlas, OpenAI's web browser, as the ChatGPT extension for Google Chrome now incorporates new features to leverage tabs already open in the browser.

Integration of open tabs and use cases

The company supported the technical presentation with a video demonstration where a user asks ChatGPT to compare the specifications and features of three sofas located in three different open tabs. The model processes the information from each active link to generate a unified response with the requested comparison.

In the support documentation, OpenAI listed several practical examples for operating the extension via the @chrome command. One scenario involves transferring details from an event report into a registration form, with instructions to pause before confirming submission. Other demonstrated commands include extracting web providers into structured spreadsheets with source links, prices, and key technical specifications.

Automated control with ChatGPT Work

The update also refreshes the ChatGPT sidebar in Chrome, offering access to the full conversation history in both Chat and Work modes without leaving the browser window. This layout allows for working in parallel with the content loaded on the screen while the assistant performs analysis tasks in the background.

Within the ChatGPT Work environment, the system incorporates control permissions to operate directly on Chrome tabs. Enabled capabilities include sending messages, filling out forms, and downloading files, a set of automation functions similar to the assisted browsing tool implemented by Google in Gemini.

Task and calendar management

In addition to writing and downloading actions, the OpenAI extension adds features to organize and group open tabs according to the user's context. In one of the detailed workflows, the model reviews tabs with renovation contractor offers and drafts an email tailored to the selected budget.

Another documented scenario allows the system to fill out medical forms before a dental appointment and simultaneously schedule the date in the user's personal and professional calendars through the @chrome contextual instruction.