According to Neowin, Opera announced today that it’s bringing free access to Google’s latest Gemini AI models to its entire browser fleet, including Opera One, Opera GX, and the new agentic Opera Neon. The AI, accessible via a side panel, can summarize websites, compare tabs, and analyze images and videos directly within the browser. Opera’s EVP Commercial, Per Wetterdal, stated the browser is the natural entry point for these AI experiences, made possible through their partnership with Google. The company says the underlying engine has been rebuilt from Opera Neon’s architecture, which enabled 20% faster response times. Crucially, Opera emphasizes user privacy and control over shared data. Now, over 80 million Opera users globally have free access to these new Gemini-powered features.
The Browser’s Built-In Advantage
Here’s the thing Opera is really pushing: context. They’re arguing that having AI baked into the browser itself is fundamentally better than a standalone chatbot. And you know what? They have a point. When the AI can directly see your open tabs, read the article you’re on, and understand your “browser flows,” its help should be more relevant. Asking it to “summarize this” or “compare this page with the one in my other tab” becomes a seamless action instead of a copy-paste chore. It’s a practical application of AI that feels less like a party trick and more like a genuine productivity boost. But the real test will be in the execution—how well does it actually understand that context without being creepy or slow?
The Free (And Private) Angle
Opera is hitting two major user concerns head-on: cost and privacy. Offering this for free to its massive 80-million-user base is a huge play. It immediately removes the biggest barrier to entry that other AI services face. Then they quickly follow up with promises of user control and data respect. It’s a smart one-two punch. In a world where AI feels either expensive or privacy-invasive, positioning your browser as the free, secure gateway is compelling. Will users fully trust it? That’s always a question with any “free” service, but it’s a powerful marketing stance that could win over the cautious crowd.
What This Means For The Browser Wars
This move solidifies the browser as the next major AI battleground. We’re way past simple bookmark sync now. Microsoft has Copilot in Edge, Google has its Gemini Nano plans for Chrome, and now Opera is all-in with Gemini Pro. It’s an arms race to become your primary AI interface. For Opera, this is a classic differentiation strategy. They can’t out-muscle Chrome on market share, so they’re trying to out-feature it on integrated, contextual AI. For the average user, this is great—it means these powerful tools are becoming ubiquitous and frictionless. You won’t need to seek out AI; it’ll just be there, in your toolbar, waiting to help. The browser is quietly becoming an operating system for AI agents.
