Enable Alternative Search Engines for Opera AI (Aria)

[EMC33]

EMC33 last edited by

Dear Opera Support Team,

I am writing to suggest an enhancement for the Opera AI (Aria) assistant regarding its default search engine usage. Currently, it appears that Google is the sole default search engine used for real-time information retrieval by Opera AI. While Google is a powerful tool, many users—including myself—prefer to alternate between a range of other search engines for reasons of privacy (StartPage, or DuckDuckGo, for instance, who do not promote paid-for search results or attempt to skew the order of results offered based upon algorithmic prediction about the user's interests) for reliability, neutrality, or personal preference reasons.

I would like to request that Opera kindly consider the following improvements:

• Allow users to select their preferred search engine for Opera AI — in the manner in which the main browser search engine may be customised. This would empower users to tailor their AI experience according to present need.
• Consider implementing a randomised or rotating selection of search engines for Opera AI queries. This approach could promote competition and reduce reliance on one single provider, which benefits user choice and diversity.

Could I ask you also to
• Clarify whether any contractual agreements with Google limit your ability to offer alternative search engines for Opera AI? Transparency on this matter would be greatly appreciated by the user community.

I believe these changes could significantly enhance user satisfaction and align with Opera’s reputation for innovation and user-centric design.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response and any updates on this matter.

Best regards,

Eric