Vivaldi 8 polishes the chrome without coating it in AI

Vivaldi 8 introduces a redesigned interface called “Unified,” described as a rethinking of how the interface works as a system. Tabs, toolbars, panels, and content are merged into one continuous surface rather than separate layers. The redesign is visually cleaner, with an option to revert to the previous design. Default themes and a large community theme library are available, along with selectable layouts during onboarding or in settings, ranging from minimalist to fully loaded. The update focuses less on new features and more on existing tools, including an auto-hide option that reduces browser clutter. Vivaldi positions itself against forcing AI between users and the web, while still using AI for translation.

"Vivaldi's eponymous browser has reached version 8, with a major revamp of the user interface. The company refers to the redesign as "Unified" and describes it as "a rethinking of how the Vivaldi interface works as a system." Where before the browser's core elements - tabs, toolbars, panels, and content - existed as separate layers, everything is now one single continuous surface."

"It's easy on the eye, though you can switch back to the previous design. The company has added several default themes and has a vast library of community-generated themes available. There are also layouts that can be selected during onboarding or in settings. These range from minimalist to fully loaded setups packed with Vivaldi's familiar controls and settings."

"Don't come looking for a list of new features, though. Vivaldi has loaded up the browser with gizmos over the years, and the redesign highlights some of those. A recent example is the auto-hide feature, which removes browser fluff to show more content. The company wrote: "While the rest of the browser industry has spent recent years racing to force artificial intelligence between people and the web, Vivaldi has taken a different path, adding tools that give users more power to explore the web and decide for themselves.""

"That's not to say Vivaldi is AI-free, though CEO Jon von Tetzchner was less than complimentary about many of its applications in a January Register interview. The browser uses AI for translation, for example, but the company has not slathered the technology across the product in the way some rivals have. Microsoft's Edge, also a Chromium browser, recently received updates that removed Copilot Mode in favor of more built-in Copilot features."

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