AI Browsers vs. the Open Web: Vivaldi Rejects Adding AI Features to Its Browser

As Google and Microsoft aggressively integrate artificial intelligence into their browsers, Vivaldi has announced a fundamentally different approach. The developers are deliberately refusing to add any AI features, calling the trend a threat to the openness and diversity of the internet.

In a blog post, Vivaldi's founder and CEO, Jón Stephenson von Tetzchner, explained that the current implementation of AI in browsers turns users from active explorers into passive viewers. He argues that features like AI-powered search summarization train people not to click on links and investigate primary sources, effectively creating walled gardens.

von Tetzchner cited independent research highlighting a significant drop in traffic to publisher, blogger, and independent media sites due to AI summaries in search results. This, he says, hurts their advertising revenue and ultimately undermines the economic foundation of the entire web, making it poorer and less diverse.

In contrast to Vivaldi, other vendors are all-in on AI: Google is integrating Gemini into Chrome, Microsoft is branding Edge as "the AI browser," and Mozilla is testing similar features in Firefox. The launch of specialized browsers from OpenAI and Perplexity is also on the horizon.

That said, von Tetzchner does acknowledge the potential of language models but contends that their current versions often generate misinformation and copyright violations. Until these issues are resolved, Vivaldi will focus on tools for active internet use—like advanced tab management, side panels, and a built-in ad blocker.

In positioning itself this way, Vivaldi is making a stand for users who want to control their own online experience, not delegate it to algorithms. The current evolution of browsers isn't just a feature war; it's a philosophical debate about the future of the internet. Will it be a space managed by algorithms that decide what's important for the user, or will it remain a place for free and conscious choice?