Frangipani
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Sony Semiconductor Brings Inference Close To The Edge
Steve McDowell
Contributor
Chief Analyst & CEO, NAND Research.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevem...close-to-the-edge/?sh=660e80bb34f9#open-web-0
Mar 27, 2024,04:12pm EDT
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Sony Semiconductor Solutions Group
NURPHOTO VIA GETTY IMAGES
AI only matters to businesses if the technology enables competitive differentiation or drives increased efficiencies. The past year has seen technology companies focus on training models that promise to change enterprises across industries. While training has been the focus, the recent NVIDIA GTC event showcased a rapid transition towards inference, where actual business value lay.
AI at the Retail Edge
Retail is one of the industries that promises to benefit most from AI. Generative AI and large language models aside, retail organizations are already deploying image recognition systems for diverse tasks, from inventory control and loss prevention to customer service.
Earlier this year, Nvidia published its 2024 State of AI in Retail and CPG report that takes a survey-based approach to understanding the use of AI in the retail sector. Nvidia found that 42% percent of retailers already use AI, with an additional 34% assessing or piloting AI programs. Narrowing the aperture, among large retailers with revenues of more than $500 million, the adoption of AI stretches to 64%. That’s a massive market.
The challenge for retailers and the array of ecosystem partners catering to them is that AI can be complex. Large language models and generative AI require infrastructure that scales beyond the capabilities of many retail locations. Using the cloud to solve those problems isn't always practical, either, as applications like vision processing need to be done at the edge, where the data lives.
Sony’s Platform Approach to On-Device Inference
Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation took on the challenge of simplifying vision processing and inference, resulting in the introduction of its AITRIOS edge AI sensing platform. AITRIOS addresses six significant cloud challenges based IoT systems, including handling large data volumes, enhancing data privacy, reducing latency, conserving energy, ensuring service continuity, and securing data.
AITRIOS accelerates the deployment of edge AI-powered sensing solutions across industries, enabling a comprehensive ecosystem for creating solutions that blend edge computing and cloud technologies.
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Sony Semiconductor Brings Inference Close To The Edge
Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation took on the challenge of simplifying vision processing and inference, resulting in its AITRIOS edge AI sensing platform.www.forbes.com
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Sony Semiconductor Brings Inference Close To The Edge
Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation took on the challenge of simplifying vision processing and inference, resulting in its AITRIOS edge AI sensing platform.www.forbes.com
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AITRIOS | Sony Semiconductor Solutions Group
www.aitrios.sony-semicon.com

Edge AI-Driven Vision Detection Solution Introduced at 500 Convenience StoreLocations to Measure Advertising Effectiveness|News Releases|Sony Semiconductor Solutions Group
Sony Semiconductor Solutions Group develops device business which includes Micro display, LSIs, and Semiconductor Laser, in focusing on Image Sensor.
April 24, 2024
Edge AI-Driven Vision Detection Solution Introduced at 500 Convenience Store Locations to Measure Advertising Effectiveness
Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationAtsugi, Japan, April 24, 2024 —
Today, Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (SSS) announced that it has introduced and begun operating an edge AI-driven vision detection solution at 500 convenience store locations in Japan to improve the benefits of in-store advertising.

Edge AI technology automatically detects the number of digital signage viewers and how long they viewed it.
SSS has been providing 7-Eleven and other retail outlets in Japan with vision-based technology to improve the implementation of digital signage systems and in-store advertising at their brick-and-mortar locations as part of their retail media*1 strategy. To help ensure that effective content is shown for brands and stores, this solution gives partners sophisticated tools to evaluate the effectiveness of advertising on their customers.
As part of this effort, SSS has recently introduced a solution that uses edge devices with on-sensor AI processing to automatically detect when customers see digital signage, count how many people paused to view it, and measure the percentage of viewers. The AI capabilities of the sensor collects data points such as the number of shoppers who enter the detection area, whether they saw the signage, the number who stopped to view the signage, and how long they watched for. The system does not output image data capable of identifying individuals, making it possible to provide insightful measurements while helping to preserve privacy.
Click here for an overview video of the solution and interview with 7-Eleven Japan.
Solution features:
-IMX500 intelligent vision sensor delivers optimal data collection, while helping to preserve privacy.
SSS’s IMX500 intelligent vision sensor with AI-processing capabilities automatically detects the number of customers who enter the detection area, the number who stopped to view the signage, and how long they viewed it. The acquired metadata (semantic information) is then sent to a back-end system where it’s combined with content streaming information and purchasing data to conduct a sophisticated analysis of advertising effectiveness. Because the system does not output image data that could be used to identify individuals, it helps to preserve customer privacy.
-Edge devices equipped with the IMX500 save space in store.
The IMX500 is made using SSS’s proprietary structure with the pixel chip and logic chip stacked, enabling the entire process, from imaging to AI inference, to be done on a single sensor. Compact, IMX500-equipped edge devices (approx. 55 x 40 x 35 mm) are unobtrusive in shops, and compared to other solutions that require an AI box or other additional devices for AI inference, can be installed more flexibly in convenience stores and shops with limited space.
-The AITRIOS™ platform contributes to operational stability and system expandability.
- Only light metadata is output from IMX500 edge devices, minimizing the amount of data transmitted to the cloud. This helps lessen network load, even when adding more devices in multiple stores, compared to solutions that send full image data to the cloud. This curtails communication, cloud storage, and computing costs.
The IMX500 also handles AI computing, eliminating the need for other devices such as an AI box, resulting in a simple device configuration, streamlining device maintenance and reducing costs of installation. - AITRIOS*2, SSS’s edge AI sensing platform, which is used to build and operate the in-store solution, delivers a complete service without the need for third-party tools, enabling simple, sustainable operations.
- This solution was developed with Console Enterprise Edition, one of the services offered by AITRIOS, and is installed on the partner’s Microsoft Azure cloud infrastructure. It not only connects easily and compatibly with their existing systems, but also offers system customizability and security benefits, since there is no need to output various data outside the company.

*1 A new form of advertising media that provides advertising space for retailers and e-commerce sites using their own platforms
*2 AITRIOS is an AI sensing platform for streamlined device management, AI development, and operation. It offers the development environment, tools, features, etc., which are necessary for deploying AI-driven solutions, and it contributes to shorter roll-out times when launching operations, while ensuring privacy, reducing introductory cost, and minimizing complications. For more information on AITRIOS, visit: https://www.aitrios.sony-semicon.com/en
About Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation and the global leader in image sensors. It operates in the semiconductor business, which includes image sensors and other products. The company strives to provide advanced imaging technologies that bring greater convenience and fun. In addition, it also works to develop and bring to market new kinds of sensing technologies with the aim of offering various solutions that will take the visual and recognition capabilities of both human and machines to greater heights. For more information, please visit https://www.sony-semicon.com/en/index.html.
AITRIOS and AITRIOS logos are the registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Group Corporation or its affiliated companies.
Microsoft and Azure are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.
All other company and product names herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Here is some wild speculation: Could this


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