Opera's AI browser will cost you $20 a month (www.engadget.com)

Opera has launched Opera Neon, a subscription "next generation AI browser" priced at $19.90/month and rolling out to a limited set of users via waitlist. Unlike simple chat features, Opera markets Neon as an agentic browser that can act on your behalf—executing tasks, generating code, and delivering outcomes directly in-browser. Key features include Tasks (AI workspaces for comparing and analyzing sources), Cards (reusable prompts you can create or borrow from a community library), and Neon Do (an agent that navigates the web to check sources, fill forms, gather info and complete workflows). The move is significant because it pushes the browser into a platform for embedded, autonomous AI workflows rather than just a GUI for search and tabs. For developers and power users it promises faster in-context coding, research automation, and reusable prompt management, but it also raises questions about security, data handling and trust when an agent is "acting" online. Strategically, Opera is testing a paid browser model against free incumbents (e.g., Chrome with Gemini integrations), signaling that companies believe professionals may pay for deeper, integrated AI capabilities. Adoption will hinge on real-world reliability, transparency about data use, and whether Neon’s automation can consistently save time versus free alternatives.