Flower Labs, a startup backed by Y Combinator, unveiled a preview of its distributed cloud platform for AI model deployment, named Flower Intelligence, on Tuesday. Mozilla is already leveraging it to enhance the forthcoming Assist summarization add-on for its Thunderbird email client.
According to Flower Labs, what sets Flower Intelligence apart is its ability to operate on-device AI for mobile, PC, and web applications, which can seamlessly transition to a private cloud when necessary (with user consent). The applications prioritize a locally running AI model for optimal speed and data privacy but can tap into Flower’s cloud for additional computational power when needed.
Tech giants like Microsoft and Apple have adopted similar strategies in their operating systems and devices. Nevertheless, Flower stands out as one of the pioneers in developing a hybrid cloud-local AI platform that is entirely constructed on open models, including offerings from Meta’s Llama family, Chinese AI research firm DeepSeek, and Mistral.
Flower Labs asserts that its cloud service, Flower Confidential Remote Compute, employs end-to-end encryption along with “various techniques” to safeguard sensitive user information. Ryan Sipes, managing director for Mozilla Thunderbird, remarked that Flower Intelligence allows Mozilla to deliver on-device AI that “operates locally with the most sensitive data.”
As of Tuesday, developers can request early access to Flower Intelligence. Flower Labs has indicated plans to expand access soon, along with features such as model customization, fine-tuning, and “federated” training in the cloud.
Flower Labs will hold both online and in-person events in London on March 26, where they will share more information about Flower Intelligence, including its characteristics and capabilities.
Since its inception in 2023, Flower Labs has attracted approximately $23.6 million in venture funding from various investors, including Felicis, Hugging Face CEO Clem Delangue, Betaworks, and Pioneer Fund. Brave, the open-source web browser, was an early partner and collaborator.
Compiled by Techarena.au.
Fanpage: TechArena.au
Watch more about AI – Artificial Intelligence
