Following ChatGPT's Popularity, Opera Plans An Enhanced Browser With The AI-Powered Chat Bot

OpenAI ChatGPT, Opera

Thanks to OpenAI, now, many others are racing on the same track, using similar vehicles, but for different purposes.

When the company introduced ChatGPT, the technology took the world by storm. Soon, as many realized the potential and the ability of the AI, ChatGPT has since touted as the "Google killer."

It even sent a "code red" to Google.

After Microsoft, which invested its own money on OpenAI, started using the technology for Bing and Edge, Google that is now in the race, has introduced Bard, its own ChatGPT competitor.

Others seem to follow suit, including Opera.

According to the Chinese brand Kunlun Tech, the parent company of the browser maker, Opera plans to launch its own ChatGPT-based web browser.

When pitted against Google Chrome's market share, other web browsers in the competition are miniscule in comparison.

Whereas the web browser from Google owns a market share of more than 60%, Edge has less than 5%, according to StatCounter, the web traffic analysis website, in its data for January 2023.

Opera on the other hand, owns an even smaller share, with a 2.4% share, the data showed.

But regardless, that number is still huge, as it translates to around 300 million active users.

What's more, the Norway-based Opera is also specialized in gaming browser.

So here, the announcement should make Opera, despite its underdog status, a business to reckon with, especially during the hype of ChatGPT.

According to Opera in a press release, the update on its browsers will include adding "AI-generated content services to the browser sidebar."

In addition, the AI can also simplify the functions of the browsers, like for example, giving users the ability to summarize a webpage or article using a simple button.

Overall, Opera is also aiming to develop tools to help users filter through the massive surge of AI-made content due to the onset of generators such as ChatGPT.

Opera web browser with ChatGPT integration
Opera web browser with ChatGPT integration. (Credit: Opera)

According to Song Lin, co-CEO of Opera, in the company's announcement:

"In more than 25 years of our company's history, we have always been at the forefront of browser innovation. Whether inventing browser tabs or providing our users with built-in access to generative AI tools, we always push the limits of what's possible on the web."

"Following the mass interest in generative AI tools, we believe it's now time for browsers to step up and become the gateway to an AI-powered web."

Then, according to Per Wetterdal, Head of Strategic Partnerships and AI ecosystem:

"We see the rise of Generative Intelligence as the beginning of a new future in which consumer app developers like Opera will be able to build experiences on top of AI-based platforms."

"We are excited to see the rapid roll-out of developer programs for solutions such as Google Bard, for example, and are starting to build and roll out new experiences in web browsing that not very long ago seemed impossible to achieve."

And according to Krystian Kolondra, EVP PC Browsers and Gaming at Opera:

"It is Opera's belief that with AI solutions springing up both for text, image, and audio generation and in countless other forms, we are at the brink of a new era of creativity on the Web."

"That's why we're reshaping the browser to allow our users to tap into all these resources and to unfold their full potential in the best possible way."

After Microsoft and Google, Opera is joining the crowd, simply because ChatGPT was originally born as a browser-based tool.

Notable companies that also have ChatGPT-like projects under development, include Baidu and Alibaba.

ChatGPT, despite its incredible ability, has its own issues.

From frequent overloaded servers, to its premium pricing options, to how it's already a threat to internet security because of its ability to create malware.

But regardless of the disadvantages, ChatGPT is the hype, simply because the world has never seen this kind of technology before, and how they're awed by its potential.

ChatGPT hit a 100 million user milestone in early February, with approximately 13 million unique visitors daily in January.

This makes it the fastest-growing consumer-based app the world has ever seen.

Read: Frequent ChatGPT Downtime Means People Are Using It, And That Is 'A Great Problem To Have'

Published: 
11/02/2023