Mastering Chrome's Built-in AI APIs for High-Performance Browser Extensions – GDG Ado-Ekiti Recap

Mastering Chrome’s Built-in AI APIs for High-Performance Browser Extensions – GDG Ado-Ekiti Recap

I had the honor of speaking at the inaugural “Road to DevFest 2025” event by GDG Ado-Ekiti. My session, “Mastering Chrome’s Built-in AI APIs for High-Performance Browser Extensions,” was a lightning tour of the new Chrome AI SDK and the power of Gemini Nano.

The Problem: The Cloud Has Limits

For years, we’ve relied on the cloud for AI features, but this approach has its drawbacks:

• Latency: Server round-trips make AI features feel slow.
• Privacy: Users are hesitant to send their data to the cloud.
• Offline Access: No internet? No AI.
• Cost: Server-side inference can be expensive.

The Solution: On-Device AI with Gemini Nano

The game is changing with Gemini Nano, Google’s most efficient AI model, now built directly into the Chrome browser. The new Chrome AI SDK provides a simple JavaScript API to access it, enabling developers to build a new class of browser extensions.

The benefits are clear:

• Fast & Responsive: With no network latency, AI features are instantaneous.
• Private by Design: User data stays on the user’s device, a huge win for privacy.
• Always Available: Extensions work seamlessly, even offline.
• Free to Use: On-device inference means no server costs.

What You Can Build: A Quick Tour for Extensions

The possibilities for browser extensions are exciting:

• Context-Aware Summarization: Summarize web pages on the fly.
• Smart Reply: Generate contextual replies for emails and messages.
• Content Generation: Help users write anything from a tweet to an email.
• And much more, like proofreading, translation, and beyond.

Show, Don’t Just Tell: Quick Demo

In the session, I gave a brief demo of a browser extension using the Chrome AI SDK to summarize the current page. The speed and responsiveness of the on-device model were immediately apparent, highlighting the power of this new technology.

Get Started Today!

Ready to start building? It’s easier than you think:

• Prerequisites: Chrome 127+
• Enable the Flag: chrome://flags#chrome-ai
• Check for Availability:

  if (window.ai) {
    // Start building your extension!
  }
  

• Learn More: developer.chrome.com/docs/ai

About Olorunfemi Davis

I am a Senior Software Engineer with a strategic, platform-focused mindset and a passion for computing, mathematics, and research. I specialize in architecting and optimizing secure, high-performance backend systems and web applications across Google Cloud. As a certified Generative AI Leader from Google Cloud, I possess deep knowledge of Google’s AI offerings and their practical application. Beyond my technical expertise, I am passionate about mentoring, fostering collaboration, and driving excellence within the developer community.

For more information about me, you can visit my profile at g.dev/olorunfemidavis

Event link: See Road to DevFest Ado-Ekiti 2025 at Google Developer Groups

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