Opera introduces WebAI for local on-device processing

Opera has launched an early preview of WebAI, a technology that allows websites and browser extensions to run artificial intelligence models directly on a user’s computer rather than relying on cloud-based servers.

By processing data locally, the feature aims to enhance privacy and reduce costs for both users and developers. Users can perform tasks such as text generation, document summarization, and content classification without sending sensitive information to third-party providers. The technology is currently available as an early preview in the Opera One browser, with support planned for Opera GX and Opera Neon in the future.

Supported models include Google’s Gemma and Apple’s on-device foundation models for compatible Mac hardware. The feature is compatible with Windows PCs using Intel or AMD processors and Mac devices with Apple Silicon. While the shift to local processing offers privacy benefits, experts note it may introduce new security challenges for corporate IT departments, as local operations can be harder to monitor via traditional network traffic analysis.