Opera has announced that its Aria AI assistant is now accessible on iOS. Initially launched on desktop in June, Aria has quickly gained popularity with over a million users on desktop and Android. The integration of Aria on iOS makes it available on all major desktop and mobile platforms.
Similar to Microsoft’s Bing Copilot and Google’s Search Generative Experience, Aria is capable of answering questions and providing contextual information based on active web pages. It utilizes OpenAI’s GPT API and Opera’s Composer architecture to deliver real-time web results. Opera’s Kseniia Sycheva emphasized that Aria, being an expert in web navigation and browser functions, is designed to facilitate collaboration in tasks such as information retrieval, text or code generation, and product inquiries.
To use the AI bot, users need to have an Opera account, although it is not enabled by default. Users have the autonomy to opt-in based on their preference for engaging with AI services. Once activated, Aria provides intelligent insights, innovative ideas, and responsive voice commands. The Aria AI bot is accessible from the ‘more’ menu, located at the far right tab at the bottom of the Opera iOS app.
Aside from the introduction of the chatbot, Opera for iOS is packed with other noteworthy features. It includes a built-in ad blocker to enhance user experience and supports Apple Intelligent Tracking Prevention, which helps limit cross-site tracking. The browser also offers a built-in VPN service that can be utilized free of charge. The updated Opera app, featuring Aria, is available today in 180 countries, including the United States and the European Union.
