I compared Opera Mini's AI chatbot with ChatGPT and Gemini, and I ...
Opera Mini, a mobile browser with a long history predating Android and iOS, has seen a decline in popularity with the rise of Chrome and Safari. Despite some unwelcome changes like full-screen ads and a news feed, Opera Mini remains relevant due to its data-saving features, a selling point in the early days of smartphones.
AI Chatbot Comparison
Recently, Opera Mini introduced its AI chatbot, Aria, known for answering queries and generating images. To test its effectiveness, I compared Aria with ChatGPT and Google Gemini.
One advantage of Aria is its integration within the browser, eliminating the need for a separate app. While supporting text and image queries, Aria also allows for image attachments and answering questions based on them.
Opera claims that Aria helps save data, which I put to the test. Unlike competitors who develop their own AI models, Opera's chatbot is powered by models from Google and OpenAI, with the underlying engine undisclosed.
Testing Methodology
I conducted four tests to evaluate each chatbot's performance in handling commands of varying complexity. These tests assessed correctness, speed, and data consumption for processing requests. Using Android's data usage stats, I measured the data consumed by each chatbot for each prompt.
In the first test, all chatbots responded correctly to a simple text prompt. However, ChatGPT and Gemini outperformed Aria in response time and data consumption efficiency.
For the second test, involving a more complex prompt requiring analysis and information synthesis, all chatbots took longer to process. ChatGPT displayed quick information retrieval but slower response generation. Aria consumed less data than Gemini and provided organized responses.
In the image generation test, Aria produced images faster than Gemini, with both consuming similar amounts of data. ChatGPT lagged due to increased image requests, yet delivered visually refined results.
When tasked with modifying generated images, Aria and Gemini consumed less data, while ChatGPT took longer but produced accurate modifications, showcasing its skill in image manipulation.
Lastly, in a real-time information retrieval test, Aria and ChatGPT exhibited inaccuracies in interpreting the prompt, while Gemini displayed better understanding, attributed to Google's broader access to news articles.
Conclusion
Despite some shortcomings, Opera Mini's AI chatbot stands out for its data-saving capabilities. While it may not outshine competitors in features, Aria offers a reason to try it: reduced data consumption. For users not heavily reliant on AI for critical tasks, Opera Mini's chatbot can be a viable option.
