diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index b006ec3..bd699cd 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -10,5 +10,5 @@
 - Helm charts are published to `harbor.k3s.k0.nu/ai-spel`; Argo CD uses the existing `ai-spel` project and namespace.
 - Player-facing speech uses the local Piper WebAssembly adapter when the player has activated audio. The separate `ai-spel-static` Nginx service serves pinned Swedish Piper models and ONNX/Piper runtime files from same-origin `/static/piper-wasm-v1/` URLs with immutable caching. Game text is synthesized on-device and must never be sent to a TTS provider.
 - This pipeline bundles only the Piper worker/client glue. Model/runtime downloads, image builds, and deployment belong to `ai-spel/ai-spel-static` and the existing `large` runner. Never build or run these assets locally.
-- Browser local AI loads its client adapter, Wllama runtime, WebAssembly, Gemma model, manifest, YAML prompt, and license resources only from the same-origin `/static/wllama-gemma3-v2/` path owned by `ai-spel/ai-spel-static`. Do not add browser CDN, npm, or model-hub fallbacks. The player must be shown and accept applicable model terms before the model downloads or runs. Acceptance, model failure, or local-AI opt-out must never block play. Incompatible asset changes require a new immutable static path and a coordinated frontend release.
+- Browser local AI is paused by default behind `FEATURE_FLAGS.localAI` in `index.html`. When disabled, do not load its adapter or any Wllama/WebAssembly/Gemma assets. If it is deliberately enabled in a later change, it must load the adapter, runtime, model, manifest, YAML prompt, and license resources only from the same-origin `/static/wllama-gemma3-v2/` path owned by `ai-spel/ai-spel-static`. Do not add browser CDN, npm, or model-hub fallbacks. The player must be shown and accept applicable model terms before the model downloads or runs. Acceptance, model failure, or local-AI opt-out must never block play. Incompatible asset changes require a new immutable static path and a coordinated frontend release.
 - Local model output is advisory only. Preserve the original player input, send local hints only as untrusted context to Rust, and label offline replies as unsaved. Local diagnostic logging is opt-in, browser-local, exportable/deletable, and expires after 30 days.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ec112be..0e04318 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -39,3 +39,6 @@ CI needs repository Action secrets named `HARBOR_USERNAME` and `HARBOR_PASSWORD`
 The first Argo Application is described in `deploy/argocd/application.yaml`. The backend ingress routes `/api`, `/version`, and health checks to Rust while serving the static client at `/`. Both services share the same origin so the session cookie remains same-origin.
 
 Builds, checks, and runtime verification happen in the pipeline and Kubernetes. Do not run the app, tests, container images, or binaries locally.
+# Browser-local AI status
+
+Gemma/Wllama assistance is currently paused. `FEATURE_FLAGS.localAI` in `index.html` is `false`; while disabled, the client does not load the adapter, download model/runtime assets, run local inference, or send local hints. Re-enabling it requires an explicit code change and the normal frontend release pipeline. This does not affect the regular Rust-backed dialogue flow.
diff --git a/docs/adr/0004-pause-browser-local-ai.md b/docs/adr/0004-pause-browser-local-ai.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..659ab35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/adr/0004-pause-browser-local-ai.md
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# ADR 0004: Pause browser-local AI by default
+
+## Status
+
+Accepted
+
+## Decision
+
+Browser-local Gemma/Wllama assistance is disabled by the `FEATURE_FLAGS.localAI` flag in `index.html`. The adapter is loaded dynamically only when the flag is true. When it is false, the browser does not load the adapter, request model/runtime assets, initialize local inference, attach local hints to dialogue requests, or produce local offline replies. The normal text dialogue remains available through the Rust API.
+
+## Rationale
+
+Pause model execution while the rest of the game and narrator experience is stabilized. Keep the implementation available for a deliberate future reactivation without downloading model resources or sending local inference hints in the meantime.
+
+## Consequences
+
+- Re-enabling local AI requires an explicit code change and frontend release.
+- Tests and the static frontend check must enforce the default-off behavior and lazy loading.
+- Existing Gemma asset publication and documentation may remain in place; the browser does not request those assets while the flag is off.
diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index d18fc00..d4face2 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -116,8 +116,25 @@
   <footer id="version-footer">Frontend <span id="frontend-version">__FRONTEND_VERSION__</span> · Statik <span id="static-version">hämtar version…</span> · API <span id="api-version">hämtar version…</span></footer>
   <script src="/piper-runtime.js?v=__FRONTEND_VERSION__"></script>
   <script src="/voice.js?v=__FRONTEND_VERSION__"></script>
-  <script src="/static/wllama-gemma3-v2/local-ai.js"></script>
   <script>
+    // Local Gemma/Wllama assistance is paused until explicitly re-enabled here.
+    // Keep the adapter unloaded when false so it cannot download or initialize.
+    const FEATURE_FLAGS = Object.freeze({localAI: false});
+    let localAiAdapterPromise = null;
+    function loadLocalAiAdapter() {
+      if (!FEATURE_FLAGS.localAI) return Promise.resolve(null);
+      if (window.localGameAI) return Promise.resolve(window.localGameAI);
+      if (!localAiAdapterPromise) {
+        localAiAdapterPromise = new Promise((resolve) => {
+          const script = document.createElement('script');
+          script.src = '/static/' + 'wllama-gemma3-v2/local-ai.js';
+          script.onload = () => resolve(window.localGameAI || null);
+          script.onerror = () => resolve(null);
+          document.head.append(script);
+        });
+      }
+      return localAiAdapterPromise;
+    }
     const auth = document.querySelector('#auth');
     const play = document.querySelector('#play');
     const playLayout = document.querySelector('#play-layout');
@@ -163,7 +180,7 @@
       line.dataset.role = role;
       line.textContent = `${options.speaker || (role === 'user' ? 'Du' : 'Berättelsen')}: ${content}`;
       transcript.append(line);
-      if (role === 'user' || role === 'assistant') window.localGameAI?.record({type: 'dialogue', role, content});
+      if (FEATURE_FLAGS.localAI && (role === 'user' || role === 'assistant')) window.localGameAI?.record({type: 'dialogue', role, content});
       line.scrollIntoView({block: 'end'});
       if (role === 'assistant') {
         latestAssistantText = content;
@@ -227,7 +244,7 @@
       if (authVoiceStatus && !auth.hidden && message) authVoiceStatus.textContent = message;
     }
     window.addEventListener('local-ai-status', event => {
-      if (!currentAccount || currentAccount.is_admin || play.hidden) return;
+      if (!FEATURE_FLAGS.localAI || !currentAccount || currentAccount.is_admin || play.hidden) return;
       const detail = typeof event.detail === 'string' ? {text: event.detail} : event.detail;
       const statusAttribute = detail.type === 'activity' ? 'data-local-ai-activity' : 'data-local-ai-status';
       let statusLine = transcript.querySelector(`li[${statusAttribute}]`);
@@ -751,7 +768,10 @@
       currentAccount = await request('/api/me');
       gameState = await request('/api/world');
       showPlay();
-      if (!currentAccount.is_admin) window.localGameAI?.start(currentAccount.id);
+      if (!currentAccount.is_admin && FEATURE_FLAGS.localAI) {
+        const localAI = await loadLocalAiAdapter();
+        localAI?.start(currentAccount.id);
+      }
       if (!gameState.character) {
         transcript.replaceChildren();
         appendInitialPrompt();
@@ -918,7 +938,7 @@
       presenceTimer = null;
       playerMessagesPrimed = false;
       seenPlayerMessageIds.clear();
-      window.localGameAI?.stop();
+      if (FEATURE_FLAGS.localAI) window.localGameAI?.stop();
       await request('/api/logout', {method: 'POST'});
       if (location.pathname !== '/admin') appendLine('assistant', 'Du har loggat ut. Logga in igen för att fortsätta spela.');
       characterDraft = null;
@@ -974,7 +994,7 @@
       document.querySelector('#dry-run-action').disabled = !enabled;
     }
     async function handleGameMessage(message, actionMode = 'normal') {
-      if (actionMode === 'normal' && /^lokal ai(?:\s|$)/i.test(message.trim())) {
+      if (FEATURE_FLAGS.localAI && actionMode === 'normal' && /^lokal ai(?:\s|$)/i.test(message.trim())) {
         const response = await window.localGameAI?.settings(message);
         appendLine('user', message);
         appendLine('assistant', response || 'Kommandon: “lokal ai villkor”, “lokal ai godkänn villkor”, “lokal ai avvisa villkor”, “lokal ai på/av”, “lokal ai loggar på/av”, “lokal ai exportera loggar” och “lokal ai radera loggar”.');
@@ -1014,7 +1034,7 @@
         : 'Berättaren arbetar med din avsikt. Den avgör om en plats, scen eller person behöver etableras och fortsätter sedan berättelsen.');
       try {
         let clientAssistance = null;
-        if (actionMode === 'normal' && currentAccount && !currentAccount.is_admin && window.localGameAI) {
+        if (FEATURE_FLAGS.localAI && actionMode === 'normal' && currentAccount && !currentAccount.is_admin && window.localGameAI) {
           try {
             const history = [...transcript.querySelectorAll('li')].map(line => line.textContent).filter(Boolean);
             const assisted = await window.localGameAI.assist(message, history, gameState?.world || {});
@@ -1074,7 +1094,9 @@
         messageField.value = message;
         try {
           const history = [...transcript.querySelectorAll('li')].map(line => line.textContent).filter(Boolean);
-          const localReply = await window.localGameAI?.offline(message, history, gameState?.world || {});
+          const localReply = FEATURE_FLAGS.localAI
+            ? await window.localGameAI?.offline(message, history, gameState?.world || {})
+            : null;
           if (localReply) appendLine('assistant', `Lokalt, osparat förslag: ${localReply}`, {speaker: 'Lokal hjälp'});
           else appendLine('assistant', `${explainDialogueError(error)} Ditt meddelande ligger kvar i inmatningen.`);
         } catch (_) { appendLine('assistant', `${explainDialogueError(error)} Ditt meddelande ligger kvar i inmatningen.`); }
diff --git a/scripts/check-frontend.sh b/scripts/check-frontend.sh
index a71ac5a..6cc3c43 100755
--- a/scripts/check-frontend.sh
+++ b/scripts/check-frontend.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,10 @@ test -s index.html
 grep -q '<html lang="sv">' index.html
 grep -q 'id="frontend-version">__FRONTEND_VERSION__' index.html
 grep -q '<script src="/voice.js?v=__FRONTEND_VERSION__"></script>' index.html
-grep -q '<script src="/static/wllama-gemma3-v2/local-ai.js"></script>' index.html
+grep -q 'const FEATURE_FLAGS = Object.freeze({localAI: false})' index.html
+grep -q 'if (!FEATURE_FLAGS.localAI) return Promise.resolve(null)' index.html
+grep -q "script.src = '/static/' + 'wllama-gemma3-v2/local-ai.js'" index.html
+! grep -q '<script src="/static/wllama-gemma3-v2/local-ai.js"></script>' index.html
 grep -q '<script src="/piper-runtime.js?v=__FRONTEND_VERSION__"></script>' index.html
 grep -q 'no-store, no-cache, must-revalidate, proxy-revalidate, max-age=0' nginx/default.conf
 grep -q 'Cross-Origin-Embedder-Policy "require-corp"' nginx/default.conf
diff --git a/tests/local-ai-integration.test.cjs b/tests/local-ai-integration.test.cjs
index b2fc7b4..e141c53 100644
--- a/tests/local-ai-integration.test.cjs
+++ b/tests/local-ai-integration.test.cjs
@@ -5,9 +5,12 @@ const test = require('node:test');
 
 const page = fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, '..', 'index.html'), 'utf8');
 
-test('local AI adapter comes from the static service and starts after authenticated game entry', () => {
-  assert.match(page, /<script src="\/static\/wllama-gemma3-v2\/local-ai\.js"><\/script>/);
-  assert.match(page, /showPlay\(\);\s*if \(!currentAccount\.is_admin\) window\.localGameAI\?\.start\(currentAccount\.id\)/);
+test('local AI is paused by default and adapter loading is gated by its feature flag', () => {
+  assert.match(page, /const FEATURE_FLAGS = Object\.freeze\(\{localAI: false\}\)/);
+  assert.match(page, /if \(!FEATURE_FLAGS\.localAI\) return Promise\.resolve\(null\)/);
+  assert.match(page, /script\.src = '\/static\/' \+ 'wllama-gemma3-v2\/local-ai\.js'/);
+  assert.doesNotMatch(page, /<script src="\/static\/wllama-gemma3-v2\/local-ai\.js"><\/script>/);
+  assert.match(page, /if \(!currentAccount\.is_admin && FEATURE_FLAGS\.localAI\)[\s\S]*?loadLocalAiAdapter\(\)/);
 });
 
 test('Gemma license links are shown in the accessible game dialogue and consent can be withdrawn', () => {