The Opera Browser’s AI Operator Will Complete Tasks for You
We’re now starting to see the emergence of some rudimentary AI agents : tools that can not only write code and solve math problems, but also perform actions on your behalf. And Opera announced the first artificial intelligence agent for its browser, aptly named “Browser Operator.”
The idea is that the browser operator can perform some tedious online tasks for you, saving you time and clicks. For example, he can arrange your next grocery order or check hotel prices in a place you’ll be visiting.
“For over 30 years, the browser has given you access to the Internet, but it has never been able to do anything for you,” says Opera’s Christian Kolondra. “Now it’s possible.”
This feature is currently in what’s called a “preview” version. Opera says none of your personal or sensitive data is sent back to the network while the AI agent is running, and says users retain full control of the process while it’s happening—after all, you don’t want an order full of the wrong products.
As is the norm with the newest wave of modern artificial intelligence tools, you talk to the browser operator using natural language: “I want to buy plane tickets from New York to San Francisco at the cheapest time in August,” for example. The bot then determines what online actions are needed and performs them.
If any user action is required, such as entering payment or login information, the Browser Operator will pause so you can take control. You can also pause the tool manually whenever you want, in case it books you a hotel in the wrong city or orders clothes that don’t suit you.
This feature is coming soon
At the time of writing, the Browser Operator feature doesn’t appear to be live yet, but when it becomes available, you’ll be able to launch it from your browser’s command line interface or through the sidebar (where you can also find Aria, Opera’s integrated artificial intelligence). Opera says the feature will be rolled out “in the near future” as part of its AI-related feature.
In principle, the idea seems appealing: Online tasks such as searching for gadgets at the best prices or booking hotel rooms for a vacation can be tedious and time-consuming. If an AI bot could do all the hard work under human supervision, it would be really useful.
However, it should all work. These tasks can be time-consuming and boring, but they also need to be done correctly. If the browser operator fails to follow instructions correctly or continues to make mistakes, then Opera users will revert to relying on their own clicks and scrolling.
Since I don’t have access to this feature yet, I’m relying on Opera’s demo video to get an idea of what it can do. The interface looks simple and intuitive, located on the side of the browser or right above the web pages the AI agent is working on.
The example of booking tickets to a football match seems to be the most useful: you can tell the AI when you want to go, where you want to sit, how much you want to pay and what types of tickets to look for. Assuming the browser operator understands what you mean and can navigate the required websites well enough will save a lot of time.
This new AI agent inside Opera also explains what it does so you can see what it’s trying to do and how successful it is at following your instructions. It looks like you’ll be able to intervene if the browser operator is about to do something it shouldn’t.
Opera isn’t the only company working on agent-based AI. Last month, ChatGPT introduced its own tool, Operator , that can perform tasks on the web: like Opera Browser Operator, it’s currently in preview and only available to users paying for the $200 per month Pro plan.