WHERE IS EDGE AI USED?
Each year our everyday devices and applications become more AI capable and new, intelligent applications are seeping into every corner of our lives, from our laptops to our cars, from our hoovers to our shops. Much of these experiences are being handled by the devices themselves, using Edge AI hardware and software, not up in the cloud. Edge AI brings a range of benefits ranging from faster response times (no internet lag!), reliability (the experience is available even without an internet connection) and privacy (personal data stays on a device that you own).
So, what real-world devices and applications in your life are using Edge AI technology?
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES
Cars are the ultimate Edge AI device. The technology enables real-time data processing in support of autonomous driving functions like lane control, speed setting and collision avoidance. Every modern car has tens, if not hundreds, of sensors built in (LiDAR, RADAR, cameras) and high-performance processors handle the data from each of these to understand the car’s environment and plan its path. Cars need Edge AI to deliver these experiences safely and reliably – real-time responses are needed on fast-moving roads, and they cannot depend on a reliable internet connection.
STREET ADVERTISING
Edge AI is revolutionising street advertising by enabling personalised content delivery. Digital billboards and interactive displays use a camera and AI to determine the demographic of the people nearby and display adverts targeted to that consumer, massively increasing the effectiveness of the advertising. Facial detection and analysis are quite a simple AI task that can be performed at low power at the edge, again reducing the need to go to the cloud.
SMARTPHONES
The camera on your smartphone is a hub of Edge AI power, leveraging computational photography techniques to enhance image quality. For example, premium phones can now detect scenes automatically and adjust the settings to achieve the best results. Portrait modes apply compute-based depth-of-field effects. And one-click photo fixes can detect and remove unwanted objects from photos instantaneously.
SMART WEARABLES
Digital watches are now incredibly smart, able to take the data from biometric monitors, accelerometers and gyroscopes and convert them into an awareness of your daily health and activity – and provide personalised recommendations to improve your workouts in real-time, for example coaching runners to push harder if their heart rate isn’t at a certain level.
ROBOT VACCUM CLEANERS
Advancements in Edge AI and increasing consumer demand for intelligent, labour-saving devices is driving up sales of robotic vacuum cleaners. These little robots use LIDAR, infrared, ultrasound, and other sensor types to navigate their environments and improve their cleaning efficiency – for example spotting when an area of floor needs a second go!
LAPTOPS
Whether you use your laptop for gaming or for productivity, Edge AI will be working away in the background making sure you have the best experience. GenerativeAI is the main field deployed on laptops with language models deployed inside word tools for predictive writing and within email applications to help your messages land effectively. In games, Edge AI can deliver graphics improvements through upscaling or common post-processing effects like depth of field; and they too can deploy GenerativeAI in support of autonomous game characters that have life-like conversations with the player.
As you can see, Edge AI is all around you. Imagination develops the processors that deliver AI across the edge. Find out more about our latest generation of Edge AI technology.
