Paul Williamson, General Manager of Arm’s IoT division, was the latest guest to feature on IoT Unplugged, to share his insights into the real-world applications of Edge AI, its advantages and key takeaways.
In discussing Arm’s particular approach to AI and Edge AI, Williamson highlighted both its opportunities and its challenges, describing the introduction of Large Language Model (LLM) tools like ChatGPT as a turning point.
However, the application of AI varies widely depending on the end application, and understanding how it can be applied to a particular sensor, for example, is something that needs to be dissected. As a result, when developers are looking for ways to apply AI, Arm’s role is in ensuring that they have access to the right tools and software to tune the algorithms to their use case.
Edge AI differentiates from conventional AI in that it brings AI capabilities to the physical devices we have at our disposal, which has a myriad of benefits for diong so, such as enabling real-time responses to data provided by local sensors.
“Edge AI is about bringing that capability into these more constrained devices,” Williamson explained. “You haven’t got a massive server and huge amount of energy at your disposal. You’re working in a more constrained environment, and you’re also having to respond quickly and locally to the specific application needs in that Edge application.”
Citing real-world examples, Williamson mentioned consumer electronics like AI-enabled doorbell cameras which are capable of distinguishing between moving objects and people; vision-based AI in industrial settings to enhance production line inspection; and robotics.
In summarising his key takeaway, Williamson recommended companies exploring the tools and software available to explore and deploy applications, with special mention to the breadth of Arm’s own portfolio.
If you’re interested in learning more about understanding Arm’s approach to Edge AI, tune into the full podcast episode, which is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and at the link below.
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