New AI Image Tool Breaks Boundaries on Your Browser
In brief
- A groundbreaking new AI image inpainting tool, Moebius, has been successfully adapted to run directly in a web browser.
- The original model, developed by researchers at HUSTVL, required heavy-duty hardware like PyTorch and NVIDIA CUDA, but Simon Willison managed to port it using WebGPU.
- This means users can now edit images without needing expensive equipment-simply open any image, highlight areas to remove, and let the AI fill in the blanks.
- The project began as a side quest while Willison was working on Datasette, a database tool.
- He found himself waiting for long periods during coding tasks, so he decided to explore if Moebius could be web-friendly.
- Using Claude Code, an AI assistant, he researched and eventually achieved his goal.
- The demo, available at simonw.github.io/moebius-web/, shows how easy it is to use-no need for downloads or complex setups.
- This innovation opens doors for developers and researchers by making advanced image editing accessible anywhere.
- With WebGPU support, similar models could soon run in browsers, democratizing AI tools for everyday users.
- Stay tuned as more projects like this push the boundaries of what’s possible on the web.
Terms in this brief
- Moebius
- An AI image inpainting tool that allows users to edit images directly in a web browser. It was adapted from a model originally requiring heavy hardware, making advanced image editing accessible without expensive equipment.
- WebGPU
- A technology enabling high-performance GPU computing in web browsers. By using WebGPU, Simon Willison ported the Moebius tool to run in browsers, democratizing access to AI tools for everyday users.
Read full story at Simon Willison →
More briefs
Google Loses Search Ground
Google is losing ground to other tech companies as consumers shift to non-AI search. Install rates for search engine DuckDuckGo have jumped by as much as 40% a week. Microsoft's Bing logged 1 billion users for the first time in its last quarter. This shift matters because around half of Americans feel that AI in their everyday lives makes them more concerned than excited. Google's search traffic has fallen slightly in the last month, while ChatGPT has ticked up. The company is also losing talent to well-funded AI challengers. Google will need to adapt to changing consumer preferences to stay competitive.
Israeli AI Firm Sold to French Media Group
A Tel Aviv AI firm has been acquired by French media group Netgem. The firm's technology cuts translation and subtitling costs by 50%. This matters because it can save media companies a lot of money. For example, a company that spends 100 dollars on translation and subtitling can now spend 50 dollars. The acquired firm's AI-based localization platform will be integrated into Netgem's film and TV services, and this will likely change how they offer their services in the future.
Hawaii Artists Claim AI Music Sites Stole Their Songs
Hawaii artists say AI music websites used their songs without permission. The websites are worth billions of dollars. They took nearly 10 million music tracks from around the world. These websites used the tracks to create new music. Hundreds of the songs are from Hawaii artists. The artists did not get paid for their work. They are now considering a lawsuit against the websites. The artists want others to know about the issue. They say the AI music makers are not creating new music, they are just using existing songs. The future of music creation is at stake as these lawsuits move forward.
AI Improves Medical Supply Chain in Low-Income Countries
A new low-cost AI system helps manage medical supply chains in low- and middle-income countries. The system uses machine learning to forecast demand and optimize how medicines are allocated. It predicts how much of each product individual facilities will likely need and then computes the most efficient way to distribute the limited national stock. This system saw a 19% increase in consumption of allocated medical products in treated areas. The system now supports allocation decisions for over 70 essential products across the country, reaching an estimated 2 million women and children under 5, and will continue to improve access to medical care.
California Drivers Sue Gas Stations Over AI Price Inflation
California drivers are suing gas stations for using artificial intelligence to inflate prices. The lawsuit claims that gas stations used an AI tool to coordinate high prices and increase profits. This has led to gas prices rising as much as 30 cents a gallon in some areas. With over 1,700 gas stations in California, this price increase costs drivers an extra $134m per year for every penny added to the price. Drivers in California already pay the nation's highest gas prices, averaging $5.58 per gallon. The lawsuit will continue to unfold in court.