Flower Labs launches a new service that automatically switches from local to cloud AI

# Mozilla

Flower Labs, a startup backed by Y Combinator, unveiled a sneak peek of their new distributed cloud platform, Flower Intelligence, on Tuesday. This platform is designed to serve AI models, and it's already being used by Mozilla to enhance their upcoming Assist summarization add-on for the Thunderbird email client. In a post on X, Flower Labs highlighted what sets Flower Intelligence apart: it supports AI apps on mobile, PC, and web that can seamlessly switch to a private cloud when necessary, all with the user's consent. These apps typically run AI models locally for speed and privacy but can tap into Flower's cloud for heavier computational tasks. While tech giants like Microsoft and Apple have implemented similar strategies across their devices, Flower Labs is among the pioneers in creating a hybrid cloud-local AI platform using only open-source models. This includes models from Meta's Llama series, DeepSeek from China, and Mistral. Flower Labs assures that their cloud service, Flower Confidential Remote Compute, uses end-to-end encryption and additional security measures to safeguard user data. Ryan Sipes, the managing director for Mozilla Thunderbird, emphasized that Flower Intelligence allows Mozilla to deploy on-device AI that handles sensitive data locally. As of Tuesday, developers can apply for early access to Flower Intelligence. Flower Labs plans to expand its availability soon and add features such as model customization, fine-tuning, and "federated" cloud training. The company is set to host a summit in London on March 26, both online and in-person, where they'll share more about Flower Intelligence and its upcoming features. Since its inception in 2023, Flower Labs has secured approximately $23.6 million in venture capital from investors like Felicis, Hugging Face CEO Clem Delangue, Betaworks, and Pioneer Fund. Brave, the open-source web browser, has been an early partner and collaborator in this venture.

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