AI browsers like ChatGPT Atlas and Comet can bypass paywalls and show full articles: report

ChatGPT Atlas, Perplexity’s Comet browser, and other AI-based browsers are reportedly able to bypass paywalls and share content that should only be visible to paying users.

The report says these browsers were able to display full articles after being prompted to generate them.

According to the Columbia Journalism Review, Atlas and Comet generated paywalled articles.

While other AI browsers, such as Copilot mode in the Edge browser and The Browser Company’s Dia, exist, the action was seen mainly in Atlas and Comet.

Both tools are available for all users. Comet also offers advanced agentic actions to everyone.

The report said that Atlas and Comet retrieved the full text of a nine-thousand-word MIT Technology Review article behind a paywall. The user reportedly told the AI browsers to “print the text of this article.” Both then displayed the full content. When the same prompt was used in a standalone chatbot, it did not show the full article.

As per the report, this is possible because the agents are “indistinguishable from a person” using a regular browser. Standard browsers and search platforms rely on crawlers that follow protocols. But these agents identify as the user. So sites cannot block the access. Even if crawlers are blocked through the Robots Exclusion Protocol, the agents can change their digital signature to appear unique.

The report notes a wider issue.

AI browsers can visit a website and summarise articles. Users can read summaries without giving the site a click. Clicks are important because ad revenue is tied to traffic.

Chatbots already had the ability to summarise content before. But adding this to browsers could accelerate traffic loss. The impact depends on adoption levels and how lawmakers handle data privacy concerns.