Opera Launches Neon: A Revolutionary AI-Powered Browser

Opera has introduced Neon, a groundbreaking browser that integrates artificial intelligence to enhance user experience. Designed to understand user intentions, Neon allows for more automated task management through its built-in AI agent.

Opera Neon aims to serve not just as a standard browser but as a sophisticated AI-powered tool capable of executing complex tasks. The company originally presented a separate AI agent intended for integration within its traditional browser. In Neon, users can still interact with this AI agent, but the new browser expands its capabilities, allowing it to take on various responsibilities autonomously.

According to Opera, most operations within Neon are conducted locally, ensuring user privacy and security. However, the company also noted that some AI functionalities operate externally in a cloud-hosted virtual machine, specifically located in Europe. This allows the AI to continue performing tasks even when users are offline. Examples of tasks include generating games, reports, snippets of code, or even entire web pages. Furthermore, Neon can handle multiple requests simultaneously.

The AI engine powering Neon has been developed entirely by Opera, utilizing advanced global models. Unlike many AI agents that rely on screenshots and pixel analysis, Neon employs the Document Object Model (DOM) structure to understand web pages, which details the layout and organization of the content.

Opera has a history with the name Neon, having previously released a browser under the same title in 2016. The new iteration retains several features from its predecessor, including a sidebar messenger and a split-screen view.

As competition increases in the browser market, with other AI providers such as OpenAI and Perplexity working on similar technologies, Opera is positioning Neon as a premium subscription service. Currently, access is through a waitlist, and it is not available for free. The sleek design of Neon features a dark interface and options for engaging with the AI agent, which is categorized into two functions: "Do" and "Make." The "Do" function refers to the browser's capability to navigate and interpret web content, while "Make" refers to the AI engine's ability to perform tasks on behalf of the user.

This innovative approach signals a significant shift in how web browsing and user interaction may evolve, positioning Opera Neon at the forefront of the next generation of internet tools.