Opera Mini just got a brain. The popular lightweight mobile browser, long favored for its data-saving capabilities and speed on slower networks, is getting a serious AI-powered upgrade. Opera announced today that it’s integrating Aria, its native AI assistant, into Opera Mini — marking a major move to bring generative AI experiences to users in emerging markets and bandwidth-conscious regions.
Aria, Opera’s custom-built browser AI, first launched in the flagship Opera browser last year. Since then, it has quietly evolved from a novelty feature into a surprisingly useful tool for everyday browsing, offering real-time web search, content generation, contextual assistance, and even code suggestions, thanks to its integration with OpenAI’s GPT model and Opera’s proprietary Composer AI engine.
Now, with Aria baked into Opera Mini, the feature becomes available to over 100 million monthly active users, many of whom rely on low-data or entry-level smartphones. Opera says the move underscores its commitment to “making AI accessible to everyone, everywhere — not just those with flagship phones and unlimited data.”
What Can Aria Do in Opera Mini?
Unlike a typical chatbot bolted onto a browser, Aria is designed to be browser-native. That means it doesn’t just answer questions — it interacts with the page you’re on, assists with search refinement, explains web content, summarizes articles, and even helps draft emails or social posts.
In Opera Mini, Aria lives within the browser’s main interface, accessible through a dedicated icon. Tap it, and you get access to a real-time AI assistant that can:
- Summarize long webpages on the fly
- Translate text across dozens of languages
- Answer questions using live web data (no outdated training cutoffs)
- Generate social media captions, blog intros, or emails
- Provide AI-powered search refinement without leaving the current tab
According to Opera, this is the first time a generative AI assistant has been deeply integrated into a lightweight browser of this scale — and on devices where performance and data usage are at a premium.
The AI Arms Race in Browsers
Opera’s move comes as part of a larger trend in the browser space, where companies are rushing to differentiate themselves by infusing AI into their products. Microsoft Edge has its Copilot integration, Arc is experimenting with AI summaries and previews, and even Google’s Chrome is quietly embedding Gemini capabilities.
But Opera’s approach is different: rather than just layering AI on top of the browser, it’s embedding it as a core browsing layer. And crucially, it’s not just targeting power users — it’s targeting the next billion users.
“Opera Mini has always been about access — bringing the full internet experience to users on limited devices,” said Jørgen Arnesen, EVP Mobile at Opera, in a press release. “With Aria, we’re expanding that mission into AI. We believe everyone deserves a smart assistant — not just those with flagship hardware.”
Privacy and Data Concerns?
With generative AI, privacy is always a hot topic. Opera says Aria doesn’t require users to log in with a separate OpenAI account. Instead, it uses Opera credentials and anonymized interactions to keep user data private. The company also claims Aria doesn’t retain conversations unless the user chooses to save them.
That said, it’s still a cloud-based AI model, and like any AI assistant, users are advised not to input sensitive personal data.
Available Now on Android
The Aria integration is rolling out globally in the latest version of Opera Mini for Android. iOS support is “on the roadmap,” but Opera hasn’t shared a specific launch date yet.
To access Aria, users simply need to update their Opera Mini app and log into their Opera account. No separate installations, no plugins.
Bottom Line
Opera’s decision to bring Aria to Opera Mini isn’t just a feature drop — it’s a strategic expansion of AI accessibility. In a world where AI tools are often locked behind subscriptions, high-end devices, or bloated apps, Opera Mini is aiming to be the lean, smart, and inclusive alternative.
The browser wars just got a little more intelligent — and a lot more interesting.