Opera has introduced WebAI, a web standard that lets users run artificial intelligence models directly in the browser without relying on the cloud. The new features are available as an early preview in Opera One.
Text generation and model support
According to Opera, WebAI can generate text, classify content and recognize relationships between pieces of information in the browser. The company says the standard is not tied to a single model and is designed for a wide range of open-weight AI systems.
Opera cites Google’s Gemma as an example of a supported model. On Macs, WebAI also supports Apple’s on-device foundation model.
Availability and activation
The early preview is available in Opera One, but users must actively opt in to use the features, according to the company. Opera says the same features will soon come to Opera GX and Opera Neon.
Opera says developers can add AI features without running their own AI infrastructure or paying for every request, while users do not need an AI service subscription.
On-device data and performance demands
Opera says information processed by local AI stays on the user’s device rather than being sent to company servers. Running models locally also places greater demands on the computer, and the company notes that model performance depends on the device’s hardware.
