(Credit: Getty Images/SOPA Images/Lightrocket)
The Opera One web browser already comes with a free built-in AI model, Aria. Now, Opera is rolling out the ability to swap Aria out for any of 150 different versions of 50 different AI models, including Google's Gemma, Meta's Llama, Vicuna, and Mistral AI's Mixtral, to name a few.
“Introducing local LLMs in this way allows Opera to start exploring ways of building experiences and know-how within the fast-emerging local AI space,” said Krystian Kolondra, EVP Browsers and Gaming at Opera in a statement.
For now, only those using Opera's developer version will be able to use the new models in Opera One. Devs will have to upgrade to the latest Opera developer version and download the desired AI model version to their computers, which can take up anywhere from 2GB to 10GB of storage space, to access them. Like Aria, Opera is adding the other AI models for free.
(Credit: Opera)"The local LLM support is in the developer version of Opera only, we have no timeline for when or how this feature will be introduced to the regular Opera browsers," Opera VP Jan Standal tells PCMag via email. "Our users should, however, expect features launched in the AI Feature Drop Program to continue to evolve before they are introduced to our main browsers."
Opera's latest AI addition isn't surprising considering the rise of AI across computing more broadly. Many different AI models are now competing for market share as well as developer and user attention, and tech firms are giving them more options to choose from. Microsoft, for example, recently added priority GPT-4 Turbo access for its Copilot for Microsoft 365 customers this week. Google also offers experimental AI features through its Chrome web browser, and Brave has continued to update its browser's built-in AI tool, Leo, with new functionality.