Opera launches WebAI standard

Browser maker Opera has introduced WebAI, a new web standard that lets users run AI models directly in its browser without relying on the cloud.

WebAI supports multiple models

The standard works with a variety of AI models including Google's Gemma, an open-weight model Google introduced two years ago. On Macs, WebAI also supports Apple's on-device foundation model.

Rolling out to Opera browsers

Opera is making WebAI available as an early preview in Opera One. Opera GX, built for gamers and streamers, and Opera Neon, which uses AI agents to perform tasks, will soon get the same treatment.

Benefits of open-weight models

Open-weight models are typically free to download and use. Their underlying model weights are publicly available, giving developers more freedom to customise how they work, though they still come with some restrictions.

Privacy advantage of local processing

Users can access AI features without sending personal information to company servers or paying for cloud-based subscriptions. Information the local AI handles stays on the user's own device.

“Users don't need AI subscriptions, the information the local AI handles stays on their own device, and they stay in control of the AI on their computer.”

WebAI capabilities in browser

WebAI allows users to generate text, classify content, and understand how pieces of information relate, all directly in the browser without cloud dependency.

Trade-off: device performance impact

Running AI models locally puts more demand on a user's computer, which can affect performance. Model performance will depend on the device's hardware capabilities.