Opera Adopts Google Gemini to Power Its Browser AI Assistant
Opera, the company behind the fifth most popular desktop browser, has recently made a significant move by allowing users of its built-in AI assistant, Aria, to effortlessly create images using Google's latest image generation model, Imagen 2. 
Enhanced AI Capabilities
The browser project announced a new collaboration with Google Gemini to empower Aria with advanced text-based chatbot functionalities. This collaboration aims to enhance the generative AI capabilities of Opera's suite of browser AI services.
In an official statement, Per Wetterdal, head of partnerships at Opera, expressed excitement about the deepening collaboration and highlighted the two decades of past collaborations that have led to this momentous development.
The new feature is now available in the Opera Developer version, allowing users to preview and test upcoming features before they are rolled out to the main stable release. Additionally, the update enables Opera's AI to provide responses in a more conversational manner, thanks to Google's text-to-audio model integration.
While the Gemini-powered update is currently accessible in Opera Developer, it is not yet available on Opera's mobile browser. Opera has not provided a timeline for when the update will be available on smartphones.
Immediate Availability and Features
Evolution of Opera's AI Assistant
Aria, Opera's AI assistant first introduced in May 2023, originally relied on OpenAI's ChatGPT. However, it later integrated a refined version of Google’s PaLM 2 model. With Google shifting its AI development to Gemini, Opera's Aria now leverages both Gemini and Imagen 2 models to process user commands efficiently.
Empowering Organizations with Generative AI
The collaboration between Opera and Google aims to empower organizations to leverage generative AI for innovative solutions.
By integrating Google's Gemini model, Opera can now offer users high-quality responses comparable to those from GPT-4. The Chatbot Arena leaderboard ranks GPT-4o and Gemini 1.5 Pro at the top, based on blind user ratings.
Browser AI Landscape
Opera's strategic move to enhance its AI capabilities aligns with the evolving browser market landscape where AI integration plays a crucial role. While Chrome remains the dominant player, browsers like Microsoft Edge have made significant strides with AI-powered features, leading to a reshaping of the market dynamics.
Microsoft's focus on AI integration in Edge has propelled the browser to claim the number two spot, surpassing Safari in late 2023, according to Statcounter data. The integration of AI has been a game-changer for browsers, offering users advanced capabilities and enhanced experiences.
Conclusion
The collaboration between Opera and Google Cloud to integrate the Gemini model into the browser AI landscape marks a significant milestone in providing users with cutting-edge AI capabilities. With the rise of AI-powered browsers like Edge and innovative features from Brave, users now have multiple options to experience the power of AI directly within their web browsers.
