User-specified GPU kernel functions and input data sets are sent over a Web service to a remote computer equipped with a programmable GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) for execution. The Web service then returns resulting data to a client, which uses the same Web service. This is accomplished by incorporating a serialized request formed from the GPU kernel function code and input data set by using JavaScript® Object Notation (JSON) serialization. The request is then sent to the remote computer and programmable GPU, where the request is deserialized, kernel code is compiled, and input data copied to the GPU memory on the remote computer. The GPU kernel function is then executed, and output data is copied from the GPU memory on the remote computer and reserialized using JSON to form a serialized response. The serialized response is then returned to the client via the web service.