New Delhi: OpenAI’s latest AI-powered browser, ChatGPT Atlas, is now getting its first significant update since its launch last month. The latest Mac release brings a wave of improvements aimed at making Atlas feel more like a full-fledged everyday browser rather than just an AI experiment, and many of the additions tackle long-requested basics. Atlas product lead Adam Fry recently announced the update via X, by confirming that the browser is now going to support iCloud passkeys, letting users create and store their passkeys directly in Apple’s secure ecosystem.
New ChatGPT Atlas release out! Just hit “update” in the top right. https://t.co/mJ6IJW0YKu
– extensions import
– icloud passkeys
– new downloads ui
– setting to use control + tab to cycle to most recently used tab
– select multiple tabs at once (shift + click)
– ability to set… pic.twitter.com/jWoNPHcx7V— Adam Fry (@adamhfry) November 19, 2025
This means now websites that enable the password-free login will work seamlessly inside the Atlas, bringing it closer to Safari-level convenience. This latest update also unveils vertical tabs, a favourite among the power users who prefer a cleaner, sidebar-based layout instead of the long row of shrinking tabs. Users can now also select multiple tabs at once with Shift click, making it easier to organise or close groups of tabs in one go. The most surprising change is that the Atlas now enables users to set Google as the default search engine. For a browser built around ChatGPT, offering Google as the primary search option is an unusual but user-friendly move, especially for those who still rely on traditional web search for specific queries.
OpenAI has also added extensions import, making it more straightforward for people to switch from Chrome or other browsers to bring over their existing tools. This major update revamps the downloads interface, unveils a setting to use Control + Tab for cycling through the most recently used tabs, and includes several under-the-hood refinements to make the browser feel faster and more stable. At the same time, the ChatGPT integrations remain Atlas’s core strength, from rewriting and summarising pages to generating entire workflows through the sidebar.
The latest update signals that OpenAI wants Atlas to compete directly with mainstream browsers. By filling in missing essentials, the company seems intent on making Atlas a realistic default browser rather than a niche tool. More features are expected in the coming weeks as Atlas expands beyond Mac and continues to position itself as the closest fusion yet between browser and personal AI assistant.
