Opera

Two months after its invite-only debut, Opera’s experimental agentic browser, Opera Neon, is now available for anyone to download and try out. Neon is designed for people who want to work with emerging AI tools as soon as they become available.

The software has been in a closed "Founders phase" since early October, and the removal of the waitlist means anyone can now sign up to use it for $19.90 a month.

Opera has been adding artificial intelligence features to a number of its browsers recently, starting with the AI powered Opera Neon which it rolled out in invite only form in October, and then across Opera One and Opera GX.

Inevitably, the browser maker is now bringing artificial intelligence features to its Android app. The update, available today, adds contextual AI, which lets people use their current tab or webpage as part of a prompt, and visual intelligence, which allows them to attach images and files directly in the search bar for AI analysis.

Opera is rolling out new Google AI features across its Opera One, Opera GX and Opera Neon browsers. This is the result of the browser maker's long running partnership with the search giant, and now includes support for the latest Gemini models.

The new Opera AI appears as a side panel that users can open alongside any webpage, set of tabs, or even playing videos. It will respond within the context of the page, allowing tasks such as research, summaries and tab comparisons. It also supports voice input and output, along with file analysis on images and video.

Opera has released a major update for Opera Neon, the experimental agentic browser it launched two months ago. The update adds a new one minute mode to the Opera Deep Research Agent (ODRA), introduces Google’s Gemini 3 Pro and Nano Banana Pro models, and lets users choose which AI model to use in conversations. It also expands Neon’s agentic features to support tasks inside Google Docs.

Neon is designed for testing AI features and exploring agentic browsing, where AI tools don’t just answer queries but can also complete multi step tasks.

Opera has added a new way for users to enjoy music inside its desktop browser, introducing a theme that reacts to whatever's playing through the built in Music Player. The feature was made in conjunction with Spotify and turns the browser’s Start page into an animated display that moves in sync with streaming audio.

The Sonic Theme is available in Opera One and uses shader based effects to create a pattern that moves with the playing track. The theme is intended to resemble sound waves passing through a thin layer of sand. When music starts, the animation breaks into small particles that move across the screen in real time.

Opera is expanding its recently launched AI browser with a new Deep Research Agent to perform more complex research and analysis directly in the software.

The new agent, called ODRA, joins Opera Neon’s growing lineup of built-in AI systems and is part of the Norwegian browser maker’s plan to make agentic browsing more practical for everyday use.

Today, October 14, is most notable for being the day when Windows 10 reaches its end of life, but it’s also Global Cat Day. One of those may leave you feeling sad, while the other feline great (sorry).

To mark the cat day, Opera has introduced a playful feline companion within the interface of Opera Air, the company’s mindfulness-focused browser, and also launched a project to help street cats in Istanbul, often (and for good reason -- they're everywhere) called the cat capital of the world.

Opera has announced plans to add expanded AI capabilities to its free browsers. The news comes just days after we wrote about Opera Neon, the company’s premium AI browser for power users.

Opera has been developing browsers for more than three decades and says it now serves hundreds of millions of active users every month. In recent years it has added a number of AI features to its products, starting in 2023 when it added its assistant Aria to Opera One, Opera GX, Opera Air (its "mindfulness" browser), Opera for Android and iOS, and Opera Mini.

Opera has begun rolling out Opera Neon, a subscription-based browser designed around agentic AI. The first wave of invitations is being sent to users in the Neon Founders program, with broader access set to follow.

Unlike the normal Opera browser, Opera Neon is intended for people who use AI as part of their everyday work. It combines standard browsing tools with a system of workspaces, cards, and agentic actions.

Opera has submitted a formal complaint to Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) alleging that Microsoft’s practices unfairly restrict browser choice on Windows devices.

The Norwegian company argues that Microsoft’s dominance in the operating system market allows it to give an artificial edge to its Edge browser, at the expense of competitors, such as Opera (naturally), and Brazilian users.

Norwegian browser company Opera has launched a major update for its desktop browsers Opera One and Opera GX, adding a privacy-focused translation feature, improved multitasking tools, and a new level of personalization for GX users.

The update rolls out as Opera continues to try to compete with bigger players like Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Firefox by leaning into user-driven customization and features.

Just how many web browsers does the world need? Norwegian browser specialist Opera thinks the more the merrier. It’s just launched Opera Air Stable 116.0 for macOS and Windows, designed to improve user focus and well-being.

The new release sits alongside the browser’s other offerings, its main Opera browser, and the infinitely customizable Opera GX, aimed at the gamer community.

Opera has revealed a strategic partnership with Google Cloud to integrate Gemini models into its Aria browser AI, marking a significant advancement in browser technology. This collaboration will see the incorporation of Google's latest and most advanced large language model, Gemini, into Opera's Aria, which is powered by the multi-LLM Composer AI engine. This engine is uniquely capable of selecting the optimal model for different user tasks, enhancing performance and user experience.

The Gemini model is celebrated for its modern, powerful capabilities and user-friendly design, and its integration is expected to boost the accuracy and speed of information delivery to Opera users. "Our companies have been cooperating for more than 20 years, and we are excited to deepen this collaboration into the field of generative AI to further power our suite of browser AI services," said Per Wetterdal, EVP of Partnerships at Opera.

In a significant development, Opera has warmly welcomed Apple's decision to open the iOS platform to alternative browser engines, a mandate stemming from the European Digital Markets Act (DMA). Seizing this opportunity, Opera is set to introduce Opera One, a browser that promises to redefine the browsing experience for iPhone and iPad users through its AI-powered capabilities and a robust engine.

The enforcement of the DMA in March 2024 is perceived by Opera as a pivotal moment that will enhance competition and offer iOS users a wider array of browser choices. Jørgen Arnesen, EVP Mobile at Opera, shared his thoughts on this development:

A recent survey conducted by the team behind Opera GX (a version of the Opera browser specifically designed for gamers) found that 36 percent of users admitted to accessing inappropriate content when away from home. 45 percent of respondents also said they’d been discovered by a parent, family member, or partner when engaging in various improper activities online.

To protect users from the embarrassment of being caught viewing inappropriate or non-work-related content, Opera GX, has introduced a new feature called Panic Button.