Google is set to roll out WebGPU, a new API that gives web apps greater access to graphics card capabilities, which promises to be a major boon for both gaming and machine learning. According to a blog post, WebGPU will be enabled by default in Chrome 113, due to be released in around three weeks’ time. It will be available on Windows PCs supporting Direct3D 12, macOS, and ChromeOS devices supporting Vulkan.
The new API offers developers the ability to achieve high-quality graphics with significantly less code. In addition, machine learning performance is improved by more than three times with the addition of WebGPU to Chrome, according to Google. This is particularly important now that we are in an era of generative AIs and large language models.
The implications of this technology are far-reaching. While services like Google’s Bard and Microsoft’s Bing may not make use of local hardware, there is a wealth of machine learning applications that do. WebGPU could allow developers to create even more impressive-looking games for browsers, opening up a new world of immersive online experiences.
The API has been in development since 2017 and promises to offer more advanced graphics features and deeper access to shader cores in future updates. Google has stated that it is also working on expanding the API’s implementation to support more operating systems, such as Linux and Android.
WebGPU is not exclusive to Chrome, as it is expected to become available on Firefox and Safari in the future. This move could be seen as part of a wider industry trend towards greater standardization, allowing web developers to create content that is compatible across different browsers.
In related news, Google also announced that it plans to accelerate the release schedule for Chrome, with “feature freeze” for new releases being moved later. This will help to streamline the development process and bring new features to users faster.
