Opera unveils WebAI standard for running AI models in the browser
Opera released WebAI as an early preview in Opera One; the feature must be enabled manually and is also headed to Opera GX and Opera Neon.
Opera has unveiled WebAI, a new web standard designed to run AI models directly in the browser without relying on the cloud, and released it as an early preview in its Opera One browser. The company announced the standard on October 27, 2026. TechCrunch reported the news.
According to Opera, WebAI works with a range of AI models, including Gemma, Google's open-weight model. On Mac, the standard also supports Apple's on-device Foundation Models.
The preview in Opera One requires users to enable WebAI features manually. Opera said the capability will also come to its Opera GX browser, aimed at gamers and streamers, and to Opera Neon, its browser built around AI agents.
Model support and rollout
WebAI is positioned as a way to run models locally inside the browser rather than through cloud services, with support for both third-party open-weight models and Apple's on-device models on Mac.
Google first released its open-weight Gemma model two years before this article.
Quick answers
What is WebAI?
WebAI is a new web standard from Opera that runs AI models directly in the browser without the cloud.
Which browsers will get WebAI?
It is available now as an early preview in Opera One, and Opera said it will also come to Opera GX and Opera Neon.
Which AI models does WebAI support?
Opera says it works with various models, including Google's open-weight Gemma, and on Mac it also supports Apple's on-device Foundation Models.