Google Chrome Adds Native WebGPU Support

Google Chrome now supports WebGPU natively, enabling faster graphics and compute capabilities in the browser and marking a leap forward for web-based 3D and AI apps.

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WebGPU in Chrome Live

Introduction of WebGPU in Chrome

Google has rolled out native WebGPU support in Chrome across all major platforms (Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS).
This enables direct access to the user’s GPU from the browser, facilitating significantly improved graphics and compute performance.

Why WebGPU Matters

WebGPU is the next-gen graphics API for the web, succeeding WebGL and WebGL2.
It offers better performance, modern GPU capabilities, and more efficient memory and thread management.

Key Benefits for Developers

Developers can build real-time 3D games, physics simulations, and AI-powered visualizations that run directly in the browser.
Reduced CPU overhead and improved parallelism for computational tasks.
Supports machine learning models directly in the browser without relying on cloud compute.

Cross-Platform Availability

Currently available on:
- Chrome 121+ (Stable channel)
- Windows (Direct3D 12), macOS (Metal), and ChromeOS (Vulkan)
Planned future support for Linux and Android.

Security Considerations

WebGPU uses a permission model to prevent unauthorized access to GPU hardware.
Google emphasizes sandboxing and safety to protect end-user systems from abuse.

Impact on Web-Based Applications

Will revolutionize browser-based game engines, 3D modeling tools, and ML apps.
Web developers can now tap into near-native performance for complex applications.

Example Use Cases