Opera One R2 adds native AI image generation and floating media controls

If your browser usually looks like a chaotic mix of forty open tabs, background Spotify playlists, and three separate windows, Opera is building something specifically for you.

Opera just released the developer beta of Opera One R2, the second generation of its redesigned flagship browser. The update focuses on cleaning up everyday workflow messes, bringing overhauled multimedia controls, built-in split tabs, and deeply integrated AI features.

Detachable media and tab traces

Instead of burying playback controls inside a sidebar, Opera One R2 turns the media player into a resizable floating widget, similar to picture-in-picture video modules. It adapts visually to whatever theme you set, showing basic play and pause buttons when shrunk down, or full track-skipping and volume sliders when expanded.

Tab hoarding also gets some practical love. Opera introduced split tabs, allowing you to view and work on two web pages side by side in a single window without constantly resizing desktops. Modern alternative browsers like Arc and SigmaOS popularized this layout, and Opera is bringing it straight into its main lineup.

For power users with more than 30 tabs open, the browser now adds subtle underlines called traces beneath recently closed tabs. The mark shows up darker if you closed the tab recently and fades out as more time passes, giving you a visual breadcrumb trail.

Aria gets page context and image generation

On the AI front, Opera is baking features previously tested in its experimental program directly into the core experience. Its native assistant, Aria, now includes image generation, voice generation, and image understanding right inside the browser.

There is also a new page context mode. Instead of copy-pasting paragraphs into a chatbot prompt, you can directly ask Aria questions about the webpage you are currently reading, whether you want a quick summary, a translation, or help finding a specific detail.

Opera plans to roll out Opera One R2 to general users later this year after gathering feedback from the developer beta.

Why it matters

Browsers have shifted from simple rendering engines into full-blown operating systems for daily work. While Google Chrome moves slowly on structural changes, smaller players like Opera and The Browser Company have been aggressively testing how people actually navigate modern web apps.

Bringing split view and floating controls into Opera is a very smart move because it lowers the barrier for users who want modern productivity workflows without abandoning familiar Chromium foundations. Meanwhile, context-aware AI on the page makes a lot more sense than a detached chatbot sidebar.

That said, stuffing local media players, split windows, and generative AI models into one application always carries the risk of performance bloat. If Opera can keep resource usage reasonable on everyday laptops, R2 looks like a genuinely compelling alternative for anyone tired of tab clutter.