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Opera’s Neon Shows Just How Confusing AI Browsers Still Are

Opera’s Neon shows just how confusing AI browsers still are — and it’s not just because of its futuristic design. Neon isn’t a simple browser with an AI add-on. Instead, it packs three separate AI tools working side by side, which sounds powerful but can quickly feel overwhelming.

Image: Opera

A Browser With Too Many Brains

Opera began rolling out Neon, its new AI-powered browser, to users last month. It joins an already crowded field that includes Google’s Gemini-infused Chrome, Perplexity’s Comet, and The Browser Company’s Dia.

However, Opera is taking a bold step by charging $19.90 per month for Neon — a move that sets high expectations for a browser experience most users expect for free.

What Makes Opera’s Neon Unique

Neon looks and feels like other Opera browsers, complete with a built-in VPN, ad blocker, and customizable sidebar apps such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. But the big difference lies in how the browser organizes its AI.

Front and center on the home screen sits a four-mode toggle:

• A regular web search

• Chat, an AI assistant for general queries

• Do, an agentic AI that can control your browser

• Make, a creative tool for building with AI

This design promises flexibility, but also creates confusion — which is exactly why Opera’s Neon shows just how confusing AI browsers still are in practice.

The AI Features Are Impressive — Yet Overwhelming

Each of Neon’s AI tools has its own purpose. Chat feels familiar, similar to using ChatGPT or Gemini. Do acts as a powerful assistant capable of executing browser tasks, while Make lets users generate content directly in the browser.

However, users must constantly decide which AI mode to use. That extra cognitive step interrupts the seamless browsing experience people expect. It’s a problem that plagues many modern AI browsers — not just Neon.

Built On OpenAI And Google Tech

Opera confirmed that Neon is powered by models from OpenAI and Google, though it hasn’t specified which model powers which feature. This dual-source AI approach gives it versatility but adds another layer of complexity for users trying to understand what’s happening behind the scenes.

A Glimpse At The Future — And Its Growing Pains

Neon offers a glimpse into where web browsers are heading — smart, autonomous, and personalized. But for now, the experience highlights how confusing AI browsers still are for everyday users.

With more browsers competing to blend AI into their design, the industry faces a big challenge: how to make AI integration intuitive, not intimidating.

Opera’s experiment with Neon may be an ambitious step forward, but until AI browsers learn to simplify their own complexity, most people will probably stick with what they already know.