Google Chrome to Implement WebGPU for Improved Graphics and Machine Learning Capabilities
Google is integrating WebGPU, a next-generation graphics API, into Chrome, starting with version 113. This new technology allows browsers to render graphics and run machine learning models more efficiently.
WebGPU: A Successor to WebGL
WebGPU is a successor to WebGL, a technology backed by Google, Apple, and other industry players since 2011. It allows browsers to render web pages using a computer’s graphics processing unit (GPU) without relying on plugins. WebGPU supports more advanced capabilities of modern GPUs, resulting in faster graphics rendering.
Improved GPGPU Support for Machine Learning and AI
WebGPU also offers extensive support for general-purpose GPU (GPGPU) computations, including running machine learning models. Unlike WebGL, which was not optimized for AI applications, WebGPU is designed specifically for GPGPU use cases, such as browser-based machine learning. Google claims that WebGPU-powered Chrome can perform machine learning inference more than three times faster than WebGL.
WebGPU to Expand Across Browsers
Chrome is the first major browser to implement WebGPU, with plans to add the technology to Firefox and Safari in the future. Google aims to enhance WebGPU’s implementation in Chrome, helping developers better utilize consumer GPUs’ processing capacity.
