OpenAI updates ChatGPT Chrome extension to access open browser tabs

What happened

OpenAI is upgrading its Google Chrome extension to allow ChatGPT to interact with a user’s open browser tabs [1]. According to OpenAI, the upgraded extension enables the AI to view browser tabs when a user tags Chrome within the ChatGPT web or desktop application [1]. A demonstration video showed the tool comparing three different tabs containing sofa options [1].

Beyond viewing information, the extension includes several functional updates:

• Sidebar Integration: ChatGPT has been updated in the browser sidebar, providing access to full capabilities and entire conversation histories from Chat or Work without leaving the current webpage [1].
• Tab Control: Through ChatGPT Work, the extension can reportedly control Chrome tabs to perform specific tasks, such as filling out forms, downloading files, or sending messages [1].
• Organization: The tool can also organize or group open tabs [1].

For enterprise users, OpenAI noted that the in-app browser UI for installing and managing extensions will not be enabled for Enterprise workspaces on 10/8 [3]. During this period, administrators can use Mobile Device Management (MDM) policies to configure extension controls ahead of the UI rollout [3]. The ChatGPT desktop in-app browser is based on Chromium and follows the same enterprise policy framework and naming conventions as Google Chrome [3].

Administrators can manage these extensions using specific Chromium policy keys at the ChatGPT desktop location [3]. These include:

• ExtensionInstallForcelist: This allows for the silent installation of specific extension IDs and prevents users from disabling or uninstalling them [3].
• ExtensionSettings: This allows for setting installation modes, such as blocked or allowed, and can restrict host access or require minimum versions [3].
• ExtensionInstallSources: This uses URL patterns for the Chromium direct CRX install flow [3].

On Windows, these are deployed as numbered REG_SZ values in policy-named subkeys, while macOS uses arrays and dictionaries in the com.openai.codex managed-preferences domain [3]. Linux users can use JSON arrays and objects in a managed-policy file [3].