Tools · 2026-10-27
Opera Brings AI Right Into the Browser, Without the Cloud
Opera has introduced WebAI, a new web standard that lets users run AI models directly on their own computer, without sending data to the company's servers.
What has appeared
Browser maker Opera has introduced a new web standard called WebAI. It lets users run artificial intelligence models directly in the browser instead of on remote servers.
WebAI works with a variety of models. As an example, Opera named Gemma from Google, which Google introduced two years ago. On Macs, the standard also supports Apple's on-device foundation model, which runs on the device itself.
Where you can try it
For now, the new feature is available as an early preview in the main Opera One browser. Users must choose to turn it on.
The company says Opera GX, the browser for gamers and streamers, and Opera Neon, the browser where AI agents perform tasks, will soon get the same feature.
Why it may be convenient
Open-weight models are usually free to download and use. However, they are not fully open source and still come with some restrictions.
According to Opera, the main advantage is privacy. Data handled by a local model does not have to be sent to the company's servers. There is also no need for a paid cloud AI subscription. The company says users stay "in control of the AI on their computer," and developers can add AI features without paying for every request.
There are trade-offs
Running models locally puts more demand on the computer, so performance can suffer. Opera notes that results depend on the device's hardware. Privacy is not absolute, but users get more control over their data.
Useful from the source
- Opera's earlier work on local AI models (2024) — Opera's announcement of its first AI features with local large language models, which led to WebAI.
Sources: 🔗 TechCrunch — AI