IBM's open source Granite 4.0 Nano AI models are small enough to run locally directly in your browser

IBM’s Granite 4.0 Nano models mark a strategic pivot in AI development by prioritizing efficiency and accessibility over sheer scale. These small, open-source models enable local inference on consumer-grade hardware, reducing dependency on cloud infrastructure and enhancing privacy. Their competitive benchmark performance challenges the prevailing trend of ever-larger models, signaling a maturing market where architectural innovation and deployment flexibility matter more. For businesses, this means cost-effective AI integration with fewer resource demands. Going forward, IBM’s roadmap for larger and reasoning-focused models, plus community engagement, suggests Granite could become a key player in the lightweight, trustworthy AI segment.