What Is a Browser? What Is a Bubble? ChatGPT Has an Answer

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OpenAI’s Atlas redefines the web browser as an AI-powered action layer, sparking debate over the future of the open web, advertising, and infrastructure investment. “That Was The Week” explores the shift from navigation to delegation.

Summary:

The latest issue of That Was The Week (#38, 2025) dives into how OpenAI’s Atlas browser transforms the web from a map of links into an intelligent agent-driven experience. Instead of browsing, users now converse with AI that can summarize, navigate, and execute actions directly inside pages. This evolution raises urgent questions about the economics of the web, as publishers see fewer clicks and impressions while assistants capture the user session.

The editorial weighs competing reactions—from Anil Dash’s “anti-web” warning to Matthew Prince’s call for Google AI crawler regulation—and argues that the future lies in AI-inclusive monetization models that credit original sources.

In parallel, the issue examines whether today’s massive AI infrastructure spending signals a bubble or a genuine buildout. Analysts like Paul Kedrosky caution against over-leverage, while evidence from NVIDIA, Google, and Anthropic suggests strong real-world demand and revenue.

Ultimately, the internet is evolving from navigation to delegation, demanding new rules for traffic attribution, data provenance, and ad economics. The question now: Will money—and credit—move with the interface shift?

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AI browser, OpenAI Atlas, ChatGPT browser, web economics, AI infrastructure, Minsky moment, Google ads, Anthropic, NVIDIA, AI regulation, Cloudflare CMA, generative search, AI assistants, open web future.

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