Will your next browser be AI-enabled? AI-first? Perhaps even an AI agent? Welcome to the age of the agentic browser …
In this episode of TechFirst, we sit down with Henrik Lexow, Senior Product Leader at Opera, to explore Opera Neon, a big step toward agentic browsers that think, act, and create alongside you. (And buy stuff you want, solve hard problems, and do some of your work for you.)
Check it out (and subscribe to my YouTube channel):
Opera’s new agentic browser integrates real AI agents capable of executing multi-step tasks, interacting with web apps, summarizing content, and even building playable games or interactive tools, all inside your browser.
Henrik and I chat about
- What an agentic browser is and why it matters
- How AI agents like Neon Do and Neon Make automate complex workflows
- Opera’s vision for personal, on-device, privacy-aligned AI
- Live demos of shopping, summarizing, and game creation using AI
- Why your browser might replace your operating system
Episode summary: Should your browser be an AI agent? Inside Opera’s vision for agentic browsers
In this episode of TechFirst, I dive deep into the future of the browser—and possibly computing itself—with Henrik Lexow, Senior Product Leader at Opera. Our conversation explores the concept of an “agentic browser:” a web browser enhanced by AI agents that don’t just assist you but take real, contextual actions on your behalf.
We cover the evolution of Opera’s AI efforts, from their early integration of ChatGPT in 2023 to the launch of ARIA, their own native AI interface. Henrik walks us through how Opera has experimented with contextual AI embedded within the browser itself—paving the way for a far more powerful and personalized computing experience.
That journey has led to Opera Neon, a brand-new browser in early access that combines three major capabilities:
- Neon Chat: a conversational interface, like ChatGPT, but aware of your browsing context—what page you’re on, what you’re trying to do, and able to help accordingly.
- Neon Do: an AI agent that can take real actions for you in the browser—like browsing Amazon for men’s size 10 white socks, clicking into listings, and adding a selection to your cart—all without you touching a thing.
- Neon Make: a generative creation tool where you can build fully functional web apps or interactive explainers, like a classic Snake game or a comparison tool for Norwegian car insurance policies, just by prompting the AI.
One of the most important aspects here is that much of this AI agentic behavior happens locally, in the browser—not in a cloud owned by Amazon, Meta, or Google. That makes it more aligned with user interests, less invasive, and potentially more trustworthy.
Henrik imagines future iterations where these agents will remember your preferences and act proactively: “Order more of the socks I got six months ago,” or “Find the best deal online for the same model.”
We also touch on the broader implications: is the browser becoming the new operating system? With everything from writing to design to collaboration happening in web apps, and with AI becoming more task-oriented, the browser is turning into a platform for autonomous agents to live, learn, and act.
This was a fascinating look at the future of browsers, AI, and how we interface with technology. Big thanks to Henrik and the Opera team for giving us an early peek at what’s next.
Listen to the full episode above or on your favorite podcast platform, and let me know—would you trust a browser-based agent to act on your behalf?