Flower Labs, a Y Combinator-backed startup, has officially launched a preview of its innovative distributed cloud platform, Flower Intelligence, designed to serve AI models with a unique hybrid approach that combines on-device processing with secure cloud fallback. The platform has already gained its first major partner in Mozilla, which is utilizing Flower Intelligence to power its upcoming Assist summarization add-on for the Thunderbird email client.

What sets Flower Intelligence apart is its ability to drive on-device AI mobile, PC, and web apps that can seamlessly hand off to a private cloud when required, with the user's explicit permission. By default, apps rely on local AI models for speed and privacy, but can switch to Flower's cloud when they need additional computational power. This approach is similar to those adopted by tech giants like Microsoft and Apple, but Flower Labs is one of the first to build a hybrid cloud-local AI platform entirely on open models.

The platform's cloud component, dubbed the Flower Confidential Remote Compute service, employs end-to-end encryption and other unspecified techniques to protect sensitive user data. According to Ryan Sipes, managing director for Mozilla Thunderbird, Flower Intelligence enables Mozilla to ship on-device AI that "works locally with the most sensitive data." This emphasis on security and privacy is a key differentiator for Flower Labs in the AI platform market.

Developers can now apply for early access to Flower Intelligence, with the company planning to make the service more widely available in the near future. Additionally, Flower Labs has announced plans to introduce new capabilities, including model customization, fine-tuning, and "federated" training in the cloud. These features will likely be revealed in more detail at the company's upcoming online and in-person summit in London on March 26.

Flower Labs has raised around $23.6 million in venture capital since its launch in 2023, with investors including Felicis, Hugging Face CEO Clem Delangue, Betaworks, and Pioneer Fund. The company's early partnership with Brave, the open-source web browser, has also been instrumental in its development. As the AI landscape continues to evolve, Flower Labs' innovative approach is likely to have significant implications for the industry.

The launch of Flower Intelligence marks a significant milestone in the development of hybrid cloud-local AI platforms. By providing a secure and flexible solution for on-device AI processing, Flower Labs is poised to play a key role in shaping the future of AI adoption across various industries. As the company continues to expand its capabilities and partnerships, it will be interesting to see how its platform is utilized and the impact it has on the broader AI ecosystem.