Opera has announced the launch of Aria, its new native generative AI chatbot that is built into the sidebar of its browser. The feature employs OpenAI’s ChatGPT tech to provide users with a range of AI-powered services, much like Microsoft’s Bing chat, which is embedded in Edge.
In a blog post, the company said Aria is both “a web and a browser expert” designed to make it easier for users to find information on the internet, write text or code, or get their product queries answered. Launched on May 24, Aria is a free feature for Opera users and is currently available for testing.
“With Aria, you’re getting access to a generative AI service for free,” said Opera for PC product director Joanna Czajka. “Natively built into the browser, Aria marks the beginning of a new kind of browsing experience.”
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Connecting AI to the Internet
According to Opera, Aria is based on its “composer” architechure and connects to OpenAI’s GPT technology. The AI assistant is “enhanced by additional capabilities,” such as adding live results from the web, and allows users to connect to several artificial intelligence models.
Unlike the standard version of the ChatGPT, Aria is connected to the internet and can surface up-to-date information from across the web and answer questions about Opera itself. Opera said Aria is knowledgeable about the browser’s “whole database of support documentation.”
The Oslo, Norway-based company plans to integrate more features such as multiple search services from different Opera partners. ChatGPT is trained on data ending Sept. 2021, meaning it is limited only to content before that date.
Opera’s new browser AI is here: Aria!
It’s now available as a free service in early access for our PC & Mobile Browsers starting today.
What’s unique about Aria & its enhanced AI capabilities? Read on! pic.twitter.com/8krrBygRI5
— Opera (@opera) May 24, 2023
Aria marks the next step in Opera’s plans to integrate generative AI services in its browsers, and is a result of its collaboration with OpenAI. Earlier this year, Opera integrated AI chatbots powered by ChatGPT and ChatSonic into its desktop browsers, Opera and Opera GX.
The company also launched a feature that lets users generate AI prompts by highlighting text on a website. It also unveiled Opera One, a redesigned version of its flagship browser, which it says is “suited to accommodate more generative-AI features.”
“We’re now forging ahead by introducing a browser AI that will allow you to interact with the web aided by AI directly in the browser,” Opera wrote in its blog post. “
How to access Aria
According to Opera’s Joanna Czajka, the current iteration of Aria comes in the form of a chat interface, which enables direct communication between people and the AI system.
Aria lives within Opera’s sidebar on the left side of the screen, and clicking its icon reveals a panel where users can interact with it. To use the AI, simply open the sidebar by clicking on the icon in the top right corner of the browser window.
Once the sidebar is open, you can type in a question or phrase and Aria will try to answer it. Desktop users that want to test Aria need to download the latest version of Opera One. If on Android, users can download the beta version of the browser from the Google Play store.
My first day with Aria:
– Performed real-time search to show open gyms ✅
– Created a work-out plan for my needs ✅
– Made lazy twitter mod sexy as hell… pic.twitter.com/yiR1mcLuiM— Opera (@opera) May 24, 2023
You will need an Opera account to access Aria. Anyone can create an account for free with a valid email address. Aria is launching in over 180 countries, including the European Union.
The AI becomes the latest natively built-in generative AI on the Opera browser sidebar – a list that includes TikTok, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.
Aria appears to be built to compete with Edge, the Microsoft web browser that got integrated with a Bing AI chatbot sidebar in March. Both leverage the same kind of technology behind OpenAI’s ChatGPT, as well as the chatbot itself.
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