It turns out Google Chrome ships a default, hidden extension that allows code on `*.google.com` access to private APIs, including your current CPU usage
You can test it out by pasting the following into your Chrome DevTools console on any Google page:
chrome.runtime.sendMessage(
"nkeimhogjdpnpccoofpliimaahmaaome",
{ method: "cpu.getInfo" },
(response) => {
console.log(JSON.stringify(response, null, 2));
},
);
More notes here: https://simonwillison.net/2024/Jul/9/hangout_servicesthunkjs/
The shitty reboot of Office Space where some low level Google employee realizes they can stick a crypto miner in every browser and generate a couple cents from everyone’s browser.
I’m willing to be we’ll see something to train language models on the user’s hardware soon enough. Folding at home, but instead of helping science, Google steals your electricity.
I really think that’s the secret end game behind all the AI stuff in both Windows and MacOS. MS account required to use it. (anyone know if you need to be signed in to apple ID for apple ai?) “on device” inference that sometimes will reach out to the cloud. when it feels like it. maybe sometimes the cloud will reach out to you and ask your cpu to help out with training.
that, and better local content analysis. “no we aren’t sending everything the microphone picks up to our servers, of course not. just the transcript that your local stt model made of it, you won’t even notice the bandwidth!)”
Chrome cryptominer when
The shitty reboot of Office Space where some low level Google employee realizes they can stick a crypto miner in every browser and generate a couple cents from everyone’s browser.
G Suite Space?
I’m willing to be we’ll see something to train language models on the user’s hardware soon enough. Folding at home, but instead of helping science, Google steals your electricity.
I really think that’s the secret end game behind all the AI stuff in both Windows and MacOS. MS account required to use it. (anyone know if you need to be signed in to apple ID for apple ai?) “on device” inference that sometimes will reach out to the cloud. when it feels like it. maybe sometimes the cloud will reach out to you and ask your cpu to help out with training.
that, and better local content analysis. “no we aren’t sending everything the microphone picks up to our servers, of course not. just the transcript that your local stt model made of it, you won’t even notice the bandwidth!)”
Probably already installed. That would at least explain the high resource usage of chrome