WebGPU technology is coming to your browser thanks to Google

WebGPU, an API that gives web apps more access to your graphics card’s capabilities, will be enabled by default in Chrome 113, which is expected to be released in about three weeks, according to Google. WebGPU will be available on MacOS, ChromeOS, and Windows PCs that support Vulkan and Direct3D 12.

WebGPU can allow designers to accomplish a similar level of graphics they can now with undeniably less code and gives “more than three times improvements in machine learning model inferences.” That last one is a real kicker. While improved machine learning performance was interesting in 2021, when the feature was added to Chrome on an experimental basis, it may be even more beneficial in the age of generative AIs and large language models. While services like Microsoft’s Bing and Google’s Bard don’t really use your local hardware, there are plenty of cool machine learning applications that can.

Naturally, it could also enable developers to create games with improved graphics for your browser. If you’re using the Chrome Beta, you can use a pretty impressive Babylon.js demo.

Google says that the current month’s release “serves as a building block for future updates and enhancements,” promising “more advanced graphics features” and “deeper access to shader cores” from now on, alongside enhancements to how you really develop content that sudden spikes in demand for WebGPU.

The API has been in development for some time. Since its design in 2017, it has undergone continuous development. Additionally, it is not a Chrome-only standard; It ought to be available in Safari and Firefox as well in the future. Google claims that it is expanding its implementation to include support for additional operating systems, such as Android and Linux.

In other Chrome news, Google said on Wednesday that it will try to speed up the release of future versions. Google plans to “feature freeze” the stable releases later, shortening the time between when developers stop adding new features to the build and when the general public receives it, despite the fact that the stable releases won’t be released earlier and have had their release schedule pushed back a week. As a result, the development process should go more smoothly.