Opera Enhances Browser AI Assistant with Google Gemini for Image Generation
Opera, the creator of the fifth most popular desktop browser, has announced a new partnership with Google Gemini to boost its AI capabilities. The collaboration will see Opera’s browser AI assistant, Aria, powered by Google’s advanced image generation model, Imagen 2.
Per Wetterdal, head of partnerships at Opera, shared the excitement about expanding the collaboration to include generative AI services for the browser. This move builds on two decades of previous collaborations between Opera and Google.
Users can access the new feature immediately through Opera Developer, the version where upcoming features can be previewed and tested before being released to the public. The update also enables Aria to provide conversational responses using Google’s text-to-audio model.
While Aria on the Opera mobile browser currently uses an older version, the Gemini-powered update is not yet available on smartphones. Opera is working on further developments and did not provide additional details at this time.
Aria, Opera’s AI assistant introduced in May 2023, previously relied on OpenAI’s ChatGPT but later integrated Google’s PaLM 2 model. With Google’s shift to Gemini, Opera now utilizes both Gemini and Imagen 2 models for different tasks based on user commands.
The integration of Google’s Gemini model enables Opera to deliver high-quality responses comparable to those produced by GPT-4. GPT-4o and Gemini 1.5 Pro currently lead the Chatbot Arena leaderboard based on user ratings.
Eva Fors, managing director of Google Cloud for the Nordic region, emphasized the commitment to empower organizations with generative AI. The partnership with Opera extends Google’s support to enhance AI innovation in the browser space.
In addition to collaborating with Google, Opera has maintained its integration with ChatGPT from OpenAI, now powered by GPT-4 and Dall-e 3. Users can switch between models by clicking on an icon below the Aria button.
With the growing importance of AI in web browsers, Opera has been investing in browser AI for over a year across its flagship browsers, including Opera GX for gamers. Recently, the company established a green energy-powered AI data cluster in Iceland using NVIDIA DGX technology to accelerate its AI initiatives.
The incorporation of AI has become a key factor in the browser market competition. While Google Chrome remains the dominant player, the absence of built-in AI integration has provided opportunities for innovation by other browsers. Microsoft’s Edge, in particular, has experienced a resurgence by leveraging AI features to enhance the user experience.
With the rise of AI-powered browsers, Opera’s collaboration with Google Cloud offers users an alternative to access advanced AI models. The availability of different AI-powered browsers gives users diverse options to leverage AI tools seamlessly within their browsing experience.
In a competitive landscape where AI capabilities influence user preferences, browsers like Opera, Edge, and Brave are at the forefront of integrating AI to deliver enhanced features and functionalities. By providing users with innovative AI tools, these browsers aim to enhance user productivity and engagement while pushing the boundaries of browsing technology.
