“Artificial intelligence will fundamentally change how humans interact with information - it’s not just about smarter answers, but about rethinking the question itself.” - Demis Hassabis, CEO, DeepMind
Rewriting the web
It was tough to imagine just months ago that established ways to using the internet will be challenge by new ways AI will invent. For years, browsing the internet was about typing a query, hitting enter, and scrolling through pages of links (results). The giant Google turned this ritual into a trillion-dollar model by merging the browser and search engine into a single advertising-fuelled ecosystem. That experience is being rewritten by AI-driven assistants that converse, predict, and act, rather than merely respond. It has happened very rapidly. And no one knows the endgame.
The rise of agentic search
The new frontier is conversational AI, where models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Perplexity transform how we access the web. Instead of visiting multiple sites, users can simply ask, “Find me budget hotels in Hyderabad,” and an AI agent handles everything from filtering to booking. The interface is shifting from browsing to fulfilling, as search evolves into an active, anticipatory partner.
Who leads for now
Google’s Chrome commands a good ~70% of browser usage, deeply integrated across Gmail, Docs, and Calendar. It now faces challenge from AI-native systems. OpenAI’s ecosystem now embeds travel, delivery, and productivity tools directly inside ChatGPT. As these ecosystems grow, websites that rely on traditional search visibility risk fading into obscurity.
The browser wars reborn
Tech companies are racing to redefine the gateway to the internet. Atlassian’s AI browser experiments with predictive workflows, while Perplexity reimagines search as dialogue. The stakes are enormous: whoever controls the AI interface controls the flow of global attention, advertising, and digital commerce.
What lies ahead
The internet’s next chapter may no longer belong to links and tabs, but to intelligent agents and curated ecosystems. The browser as we know it is evolving into an adaptive interface that learns, reasons, and acts, reshaping the very architecture of online discovery.
Summary
AI is transforming search into a proactive, conversational system that fulfills intent instead of merely responding to queries. Giants like Google face rising competition from AI-native platforms like OpenAI and Perplexity, as browsers become intelligent, predictive gateways to digital life.
Food for thought
If AI agents curate and control our gateways to information, who ensures that the truth we receive remains transparent and unbiased?
AI concept to learn: AI agents
AI agents are intelligent systems capable of understanding user intent, making decisions, and performing actions autonomously. Unlike chatbots, they can connect to external tools, interpret real-world data, and execute tasks such as booking, summarizing, or managing workflows, bringing automation into everyday interaction.
[The Billion Hopes Research Team shares the latest AI updates for learning and awareness. Various sources are used. All copyrights acknowledged. This is not a professional, financial, personal or medical advice. Please consult domain experts before making decisions. Feedback welcome!]
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