Opera’s browser adds AI-powered image generation and better multimedia controls | TechCrunch

The company has traditionally placed the multimedia controls on the sidebar. But with the new version, the control can be on its own floating window, just like the picture-in-picture video module. Opera said it has made sure that the resizable floating controls will match the browser’s theme that you have set. Depending on the size, the multimedia player will have controls like play/pause, next, previous, pop-out, and volume options.

The Opera One R2 also brings new tab controls with the marquee feature of a split tab window, so you can work on two web pages at the same time. Some newer browsers, such as Arc and SigmaOS have baked this functionality well into their products.

The redesigned version adds a new indicator in form a underscore to highlight a recently closed tab. These indicators, called traces, will be light or dark based on the time passed since you closed the tab. It will appear for people who hae more than 30 tabs open.

AI features

Opera has been experimenting with AI feature such as an sidebar with its “Aria” assistant, AI-powered summerization, and letting people use large language models (LLMs) locally.

The company had rolled out some features with Aria such as image and voice generation and image understanding capabilties through its experimental AI features program. These features will be baked in to Opera One R2.

With the new version, Opera is bringing a page context mode, which allows users to ask Aria questions about a webpage including finding, translating or summerizing a particular bit of information.

Opera plans to release the Opera One R2 to a wider userbase later this year.