AI ToolsAug 14, 2026, 5:45 AM

Meet Needle 2: An Open 45M-Parameter Tool-Calling Model That Ships as a 14MB Binary and Runs a Full Session in 28MB of RAM

30-second summary

Cactus Compute has released Needle 2, a 45M-parameter AI model that runs efficiently on low-end hardware.

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Meet Needle 2: An Open 45M-Parameter Tool-Calling Model That Ships as a 14MB Binary and Runs a Full Session in 28MB of RAM
Key takeaways
  • Needle 2 is a 45M-parameter AI model for tool calling, device use, and structured extraction.
  • The model is released as a single 14MB binary and runs in 28MB of RAM.
  • Needle 2 achieves strong performance on low-end hardware without a GPU or NPU.
Full story

Cactus Compute has released Needle 2, an open-source AI model designed for tool calling, device use, and structured extraction. This 45M-parameter model is notable for its efficiency, requiring only a 14MB binary and 28MB of RAM to run a full session. This makes it an attractive option for developers working with limited resources. The model has demonstrated strong performance on the Seal-Tools splits, even when targeting hardware without a GPU or NPU. This release highlights the ongoing advancements in AI model efficiency and accessibility.

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Why this matters
Developers

Needle 2 offers a lightweight AI model for tool calling, making it easier to integrate into projects with limited resources.

Businesses

This release highlights the growing importance of efficient AI models in various industries.

Investors

The development of Needle 2 demonstrates the ongoing advancements in AI model efficiency and accessibility.

Everyone

Cactus Compute's release of Needle 2 showcases the potential of AI models in various applications.

Glossary
NPU
Neural Processing Unit, a specialized hardware component designed for efficient AI computations.
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