Opera announced today that it is extending its AI assistant, Aria, to the Opera Mini browser available for Android users. This latest integration is aimed primarily at providing advanced AI-driven capabilities to users with entry-level smartphones and limited data plans.
The Aria assistant is designed to help users access current news, gather key information across a wide array of topics, enhance learning opportunities, and even generate relevant images. Opera employs combined AI models sourced from both OpenAI and Google to deliver accurate and helpful responses.
Jørgen Arnesen, Executive Vice President of Mobile at Opera, said in a statement: “AI is rapidly becoming an integral part of the daily internet experience—introducing Aria to Opera Mini simply complements what is already our most-downloaded mobile browser. With built-in AI now available directly through Opera Mini, we’re eager to discover how AI-powered features can enrich the browsing experience users depend upon every day.”
Opera Mini, first introduced in 2005, has been highly popular for minimizing data usage, a critical advantage for users facing connectivity restrictions or limited mobile plans. The company assured users that adding Aria AI capabilities would not significantly increase the app’s file size or reduce its efficiency in conserving data.
Opera has actively partnered in recent years with telecom providers in Africa, offering its Opera Mini customers free data under special promotions. However, last year the company had to terminate its free data offering in Kenya following a regulatory crackdown on embedded advertising within mobile browser interfaces.
As one of the longstanding leaders in the global browser market, Opera Mini has achieved a substantial user base, recording over a billion downloads on Android and currently reaching more than 100 million monthly active users worldwide. App analytics provider Appfigures reported approximately 7.1 million downloads of Opera Mini globally this year alone.
The Aria integration follows Opera’s recent initiatives aimed at incorporating AI technologies broadly across its product portfolio. The company previously introduced features that allow users to manage their browser tabs through natural language prompts and developed autonomous browser interactions powered by artificial intelligence.
