Flower Labs, a Y Combinator-backed startup, has launched a preview of Flower Intelligence, its new distributed cloud platform designed for serving AI models. The platform, unveiled on Tuesday, enables AI applications to run locally on mobile, PC, and web apps, seamlessly handing off to the cloud when additional computing power is required—with user permission.
Mozilla has already integrated Flower Intelligence into its upcoming Assist summarization add-on for the Thunderbird email client. According to Mozilla Thunderbird’s Managing Director Ryan Sipes, the platform allows for on-device AI processing, ensuring privacy while leveraging cloud resources when necessary.
Flower Labs developed a Hybrid Cloud-Local AI Solution Built on Open Models
What sets Flower Intelligence apart is its hybrid approach, combining local AI execution for speed and privacy with cloud-based computing for complex tasks. Unlike proprietary AI solutions from Microsoft and Apple, Flower Intelligence is built entirely on open-source models, including, Meta’s Llama family, Chinese AI lab DeepSeek and Mistral
Flower Labs claims that its Flower Confidential Remote Compute service utilizes end-to-end encryption and advanced security techniques to safeguard user data. This ensures that even when AI computations shift to the cloud, sensitive information remains protected.
Starting Tuesday, developers can apply for early access to Flower Intelligence. In the near future, Flower Labs plans to expand the platform’s capabilities, including:
- Model customization
- Fine-tuning
- Federated training in the cloud
To showcase further developments, Flower Labs is hosting a summit in London on March 26, offering both online and in-person participation.
Since its launch in 2023, Flower Labs has raised $23.6 million in venture funding from notable investors, including:
- Felicis
- Hugging Face CEO Clem Delangue
- Betaworks
- Pioneer Fund
Additionally, Brave, the open-source web browser, was an early partner and collaborator in Flower Labs’ AI development.
As AI adoption continues to expand, Flower Labs’ hybrid cloud-local approach provides a scalable, privacy-focused alternative to proprietary AI solutions. With open-source models, secure cloud computing, and flexible AI deployment, Flower Intelligence is poised to become a significant player in the AI infrastructure landscape.
