Google hopes to increase its share of the software industry with the launch of KataOS, a new operating system for machine learning tools.
Described in the company blog post (opens in a new tab) as “a confidently secure platform, optimized for embedded devices running ML applications”, KataOS will run alongside its reference implementation, Sparrow.
Most computer users will be used to Windows and macOS operating systems, while professional users will have to find their favorite Linux distribution for more specific operations.
Google announces KataOS and Sparrow
In its announcement, the company stated the importance of being able to build “verifiable secure systems for embedded hardware” as smart devices become more commonplace.
Google says our personal data – such as images and voice recordings – could be at risk if it can’t be mathematically proven that the devices keep the data safe.
While there is “much work to be done”, Google has still confirmed some details about the upcoming KataOS. In the past, the company favored the Carbon and C++ programming languages, but its new project is “written almost entirely in Rust,” according to related sources. GitHub page (opens in a new tab).
Register (opens in a new tab) we’ll take a closer look at the basic seL4 microkernel, which is typically implemented in C. The article explains how CAmkES, which uses Haskell and Python, comes into play as “an abstraction layer that binds C and Rust together.”
Google sees this as the first step into “a future where intelligent ambient ML systems are always trustworthy.”
Going forward, the company hopes to make all Sparrow software available – both hardware and software.