According to 9to5Mac, Opera is expanding its partnership with Google to integrate Gemini AI models across its browser lineup, specifically into Opera One and Opera GX, following their debut in the experimental Opera Neon. The new AI features include a context-aware side panel that can generate summaries, compare tabs, and analyze files, images, and videos based on what you’re browsing. The company’s EVP Commercial, Per Wetterdal, stated the rebuilt AI engine delivers responses 20% faster and supports voice input/output. Opera claims these new capabilities will reach over 80 million users, and it emphasizes user control over privacy with clear settings for what data is shared with the AI.
The AI browser war heats up
Look, this is Opera playing its one real card. They’re not going to win the browser market share battle with Chrome or Safari on sheer numbers. So their play is to be the aggressive early adopter of flashy features, especially AI. Integrating Gemini deeply is a logical move—it’s basically hitching their wagon to Google’s AI engine, which is probably more reliable than trying to build their own from scratch. The side panel stuff, like summarizing articles or comparing tabs, is becoming table stakes. Microsoft’s doing it with Copilot in Edge, and others are following. Opera needs to be first, or at least loudest, to get noticed.
But what’s the real cost?
Here’s the thing they’re glossing over. When they say “full control over what is shared,” that’s a classic privacy reassurance that often means the default settings share a lot. You have to go digging to lock it down. And while a 20% faster response sounds great, it’s a meaningless metric without context. 20% faster than what? Their old, slow AI? The real test is how it feels when you use it. Does it actually save time, or is it just another distracting gimmick that bogs down your browser? I’m skeptical. Also, bundling AI into everything, especially a gaming browser like GX, feels a bit like feature creep. Do gamers really want an AI side panel, or do they just want low RAM usage and good Discord integration?
The Google partnership is everything
This entire announcement hinges on that partnership with Google. Opera’s basically becoming a third-party showcase for Gemini. That’s not a bad strategy—it gives them access to top-tier models without the R&D budget of a giant. But it also makes them incredibly dependent. If Google decides to change the terms, raise prices, or even cut off access, Opera’s flagship feature is in jeopardy. It’s a risky bet, but probably the only one they could make. Wetterdal’s quote about the browser being the “natural entry point” for AI is right, though. It is. The battle for your default browser is increasingly becoming a battle over which AI assistant you want living in it.
So, should you care?
For the average user? Probably not yet. If you’re already an Opera GX or Opera One user, you’ll get some new toys to play with for free, which is cool. The file and image analysis could be genuinely useful. But is this enough to make someone switch from Chrome or Edge? Doubtful. For the tech industry, it’s another sign of the relentless, often undifferentiated, AI-feature arms race. Every piece of software now feels obligated to have an AI sidebar. Whether that translates to actual, daily utility for millions of people is the big unanswered question. We’ll see if Opera’s 80 million users actually use it, or if it just becomes another background process.
