Opera has presented its first browser powered by agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI), Opera Neon, developed with the aim of understanding the user’s intention, performing tasks on their behalf, and “materialising their ideas and needs on the web,” as well as working even when the user is offline.

The Norwegian company has explained that this new AI browser, which will be only available to paying users, is the result of years of development and “redefines” the role of the browser in the new generation of AI-driven web. Specifically, Opera Neon has been designed to understand the user’s intention, so Opera has stated that it will no longer be limited to displaying pages but that it can converse, execute tasks, and autonomously create digital content. This ability to anticipate user needs reflects the broader role AI agents are playing in transforming the workplace, as recently discussed in a Canva Create event on the future of human-machine collaboration.

Neon functionalities

All of this will be achieved through three main functions: Chat with Neon, Neon Do, and Neon Make. The first will allow users to interact with the browser’s native AI agent, which enables searching the web and obtaining answers and contextual information from the visited page.

Secondly, Neon Do will utilise the AI agent previously presented by the company, Browser Operator, to automate routine tasks such as filling out forms, booking hotels, or making purchases. In this way, Opera Neon will understand and interact with web content and execute tasks locally, preserving the user’s privacy and security, according to Opera.

Thirdly, Neon Make will allow the generation of complex content from simple instructions, whether it be a report or a piece of code, up to a game or a complete website. Thus, Opera Neon uses AI agents that operate beyond the browser, as detailed by Opera, in a cloud virtual machine and that continue working even when the user disconnects. It is also capable of executing several creations in parallel.

Collaborative human-AI environment

Opera has pointed out that, unlike other browsers that integrate AI functions, Opera Neon has been conceived from the beginning as a “collaborative environment” between the user and artificial intelligence. In this regard, the senior director of AI Product at Opera, Henrik Lexow, added that they intend it to be a collaborative platform with which to “define,” together with its community, “the coming generation of agentic browsing.”

“We’re at a point where AI can fundamentally change the way we use the internet and perform all sorts of tasks in the browser. Opera Neon brings this to our users’ fingertips,” Lexow explains. Opera underscores that its new agentic browser will be a premium subscription product, and users can sign up to a waiting list on its website to try Opera Neon.