Cost, power consumption and data security make up many of the reasons electronics engineers are struggling to embed true artificial intelligence within devices, research by XMOS finds
Bristol UK, 2nd June 2020 — Electronics engineers are still struggling to embed true artificial intelligence within devices themselves, instead relying on the cloud, which limits the potential applications for AI, new research from XMOS finds.
Despite the drive towards edge AI with its promises of unlocking a $3 trillion AIoT market, 64% of engineers are struggling to create endpoint devices with AI capabilities because of the costs involved.
With expensive hardware, and the extra budget required to maintain reliable connectivity to cloud services, designers are struggling to create AI-capable devices that are commercially viable. This is despite the fact that 82% of the engineers agree that incorporating AI capabilities into their endpoint devices would increase the competitive advantage of their products.
Indeed, the research reveals that the appetite for edge AI devices is massive, with 40% of electronics engineers going as far as to say that edge AI will “radically change technology for the better”, and 44% saying that edge AI is “critical to improving the way humans interact with technology.”
These are the findings from Bristol-based AI and voice processing firm XMOS in its Edge of Tomorrow report, which uncovers the sheer potential of the AIoT and what electronics engineers believe are the biggest market- and device-level barriers to unlocking the industry.
Edge AI has been touted as one of the biggest technology revolutions since the advent of the cloud, thanks to its potential to effectively make electronic devices think for themselves. Experts have indicated that edge AI has the potential to revolutionise life and business as we know it in almost every sector — and unlock new applications where safety and security is paramount, like autonomous vehicles
Mark Lippett, CEO at XMOS, said: “The AI world is on the edge of something special — but it needs to reduce the reliance on the cloud if it’s going to change technology for the better. The cloud isn’t built to connect billions of devices and process huge amounts of data. And issues with bandwidth – which is not unlimited, and connectivity – which is not ubiquitous, prevent AI from being reaching its full potential.
“But clearly, electronics engineers are struggling to move away from the cloud. What the world needs now is chip technology that strikes the right balance between performance and cost, while delivering total security and unlimited scalability. We believe we’re the first company in the world to crack that.”
Earlier this year, XMOS announced xcore®.ai, its new, disruptive crossover processor for the AIoT market. With prices starting from just $1, xcore.ai heralds an entirely new generation of embedded platform with the potential to underpin the AIoT and drive the next technological revolution. It represents the most versatile, scalable, cost-effective and easy-to-use processor on the market today.
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About XMOS
XMOS is a deep tech company at the leading edge of the AIoT. Since its inception in 2005, XMOS has had its finger on the pulse recognising and addressing the evolving market need. The company’s processors put intelligence, connectivity and enhanced computation at the core of smart products.
Media contact
Ben Musgrove, senior account executive, Wildfire
xmos@wildfirepr.com
+44 208 408 8000
