News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Web Translator API. Parent comment

Re:Web Translator API by cj on Wednesday June 25, 2025 @01:28PM (#44379798)
Does the API trigger the download automatically, or does it ask for user permission?

(Answered my own question): Doesn't look like it requires the user's permission. Upon first use, the model will start downloading. The user has to wait for the download to finish before the API will work. That could take hours for 22gb.

I presume this can't work on mobile?

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Translator_...

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Web Translator API by ameliaquining on Wednesday June 25, 2025 @01:44PM (#44379956)
The article indicates that it will only download the model over an unmetered connection, e.g., while the phone is connected to wifi.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Web Translator API by djhn on Thursday June 26, 2025 @04:35AM (#44385408)
Seems very backwards for markets where wired/wifi connections at home are nonexistant, 4g/5g is already unmetered and phones are the wifi you connect your devices to.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Web Translator API by ameliaquining on Thursday June 26, 2025 @06:36PM (#44392160)
If you have an unlimited data plan then Android counts that as an unmetered connection and Chrome will download the model over it.
[ Parent | on HN ]