Vivaldi browser CEO Jon von Tetzchner has reinforced his company’s stance against integrating generative AI into web browsers, arguing that AI-driven browsing diminishes human exploration and diverts traffic from publishers to chatbots[1].
“We’re taking a stand, choosing humans over hype, and we will not turn the joy of exploring into inactive spectatorship,” von Tetzchner stated in an August 2025 blog post[1:1].
While major browser makers like Google, Microsoft, and Mozilla have embraced AI integration, von Tetzchner claims most Vivaldi users oppose having AI in their browser. He argues that AI browser features primarily exist to collect user data, comparing them to social media algorithms that control what people see[1:2].
Vivaldi does use some AI technology, like pre-trained translation models that don’t rely on user data. “It’s not like we’re saying AI is wrong in all cases,” von Tetzchner told The Register. “I think AI can be used in particular for things like research…But I think the way it is being used on the internet and for browsing is net negative”[1:3].
I said the same almost 10 years ago, never regret it.
There was a brief, very sad time when Jon left Opera and it started to go down the drain. His Opera Browser was the first and only Browser I was happy to pay money for. I was super excited when he started Vivaldi and use it since day one. It is fantastic and I hope they manage to keep out the toxic Google changes to Chromium, although I do not have high hopes, because Browser engines nowadays seem to be super complex and difficult to maintain. We`ll see… I will stick to Vivaldi as long as possible.
Agree, I’ve faith in the Vivaldi devs which do a great work, keeping the Chromium base cleen. The only lack is depending on the Chrome Store for extensions, but good that it need only few, because its own features.