Opera has launched an early preview of WebAI, a new proposed web standard designed to allow artificial intelligence models to run directly on a user's computer within the browser. This approach aims to enhance user privacy by keeping data local and reduce costs for developers who would otherwise rely on cloud-based AI services. The feature is initially available in the Opera One browser for Windows and Apple silicon Macs.
The WebAI standard is model-agnostic, launching with support for Google's Gemma models and Apple's on-device foundation models on compatible Macs. Opera states the proposed standard is backed by major tech companies, including Google and Microsoft. The feature is opt-in, requiring users to grant permission before any website can access the local AI capabilities, ensuring user control over the new functionality.