Opera Neon is a premium, AI-powered “agentic” browser developed by Opera. Launched on September 30, 2025, it’s designed specifically for power users who integrate AI deeply into their daily workflows, such as professionals handling research, shopping, travel planning, or content creation.
Unlike traditional browsers or simple AI chat tools, Neon goes beyond querying or summarizing—it’s built to act on your behalf, executing complex tasks directly within the browser while maintaining privacy and control. It inherits Opera’s core features like a built-in ad blocker, free VPN, bookmarks, and sidebar tools, but adds a redesigned interface for clarity, speed, and safety.
This is distinct from Opera’s 2016 concept browser also called Neon (a visual prototype focused on aesthetics); the 2025 version is a full-fledged, AI-centric product evolved from an early preview known as “Browser Operator.”
How does Opera Neon work?
Neon operates as a self-contained environment where AI agents understand your intent, analyze web content, and perform actions locally in your browser session—without needing to share passwords or data with external cloud services. Everything happens in real-time, with full visibility so you can pause, guide, or take over at any point. Here’s a breakdown of its core mechanics:
- Tasks (Workspaces): These are isolated “mini-browsers” for specific goals, like “Plan a trip to Paris” or “Compare laptop prices.” You can pull in multiple tabs, websites, documents, searches, and AI chats. The AI maintains context across them, extracting and interpreting webpage code to read, summarize, compare, or act—e.g., scanning flight sites for deals, filling booking forms, or organizing receipts into a spreadsheet. Tasks keep your broader browsing private and organized.
- Neon Chat and Neon Do: Chat for brainstorming or quick assistance (e.g., “Summarize this article”). Do is the “agentic” powerhouse: It plans steps, navigates sites, fills forms, places orders, or even writes code snippets. For example, say “Book a hotel under $200,” and it searches, compares, and submits—pausing for your confirmation on sensitive steps. Actions are visible in a sidebar, and it adapts based on your input.
- Cards: Reusable “prompt cards” act like templates to customize AI behavior. Pre-built ones include “comparison table,” “key decisions,” or “action items.” Mix them into prompts (e.g., “Research EVs + comparison table card”), create custom ones, or browse a community store. This speeds up repeatable chores like generating meeting notes or shopping lists.
- Make Tool: For creation, it deploys specialized AI agents to build outputs like websites, videos, or meal plans with auto-generated shopping lists. Results are editable files or shareable URLs, hosted on secure European servers via a virtual machine.
Privacy is central: All processing stays local where possible, with no cloud authentication for actions. It works with familiar sites by understanding HTML/CSS/JS, and includes safeguards like real-time previews and user overrides.
Why Now?
While official announcements don’t pinpoint a single trigger, the timing aligns with the rapid maturation of AI agents in 2025, enabling browsers to shift from passive tools to proactive assistants.
Opera positions Neon as a response to the “agentic web” era, where users demand AI that doesn’t just answer questions but delivers outcomes—like automating workflows for busy professionals.
Having previewed it in May 2025, the full release capitalizes on Opera’s legacy of boundary-pushing amid growing competition from AI-enhanced rivals like Arc or Microsoft Edge. It’s strategically aimed at AI-heavy users in Europe and beyond, emphasizing data sovereignty with EU-hosted servers, which feels timely post-GDPR evolutions and global AI regulations.
How Can I Get It?
Opera Neon is available exclusively for Windows and Mac desktops as a paid subscription product—targeted at power users rather than casual browsers. It’s not free or open to everyone yet; access starts with the “Neon Founders” program for early adopters.
