Opera AI Agent: Native Browser AI is Here

Opera's New AI Agent: Browser Operator

Opera, the browser developer, has introduced a novel AI agent known as Browser Operator. This new tool is designed to autonomously execute tasks across various websites on behalf of the user.

Demonstrated Capabilities

A demonstration showcased the agent's ability to locate a specific item – a pair of socks – on Walmart’s website. It also successfully obtained tickets for a football game directly from the team's official site.

Furthermore, Browser Operator was shown to search for and identify both flight and hotel options for a trip using Booking.com. Opera has announced that this functionality will be rolled out to users via its Feature Drop program in the near future.

Scope of Functionality

Currently, it remains uncertain whether the agent is limited to operating on single websites. Alternatively, it may possess the capacity to interpret and fulfill broader requests, such as finding the most affordable flight from London to New York for a specific date.

It is important to remember that Opera already provides AI-powered features that allow users to pose questions related to the content of the webpage they are currently viewing.

Security and Control

Opera emphasizes that users will have full visibility into Browser Operator’s actions. They will also retain the ability to assume manual control of the screen at any time.

The company asserts that this agent offers enhanced security compared to competing solutions. This is because it operates directly on the user’s device, rather than relying on cloud-based browser instances or virtual machines.

Competitive Landscape

The development of AI-powered browsing agents is a rapidly evolving field. OpenAI’s agent, also named Operator, utilizes a browser and is accessible to ChatGPT Pro subscribers.

Additionally, The Browser Company, creator of the Arc Browser, has previewed Dia, a forthcoming browser with integrated agentic capabilities. Perplexity is also preparing to launch its own browser, named Comet.

Here's a summary of the key players:

• Opera: Browser Operator
• OpenAI: Operator (for ChatGPT Pro users)
• The Browser Company: Dia (upcoming)
• Perplexity: Comet (upcoming)