Microsoft Launches Azure Percept to Simplify Edge AI Deployment
Microsoft introduces Azure Percept, a new hardware and software platform that brings artificial intelligence capabilities directly to edge devices. The no-code system aims to help developers easily build and deploy machine learning models without requiring deep AI expertise.
Microsoft unveils Azure Percept, a comprehensive platform of hardware and software designed to bring Azure AI services directly to the edge. The public preview, revealed during Microsoft Ignite 2021, includes Azure Percept Studio for developing AI models and a dedicated development kit. This system enables users to build and deploy machine learning solutions locally rather than relying solely on centralized cloud processing.
The development kit features a carrier board with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, an NXP iMX8m processor, and an intelligent camera called Azure Percept Vision. Users have the option to add Azure Percept Audio, a microphone accessory that introduces speech AI capabilities to the setup. The platform emphasizes a no-code, drag-and-drop approach through Azure Percept Studio, which provides pre-built sample models for detecting faces, people, vehicles, and retail products.
Industry analysts note that Azure Percept significantly lowers the barrier to entry for developers who lack deep AI expertise. The software integrates seamlessly with existing Azure services like Custom Vision to streamline the training and deployment of custom models. This release aligns with a broader industry trend where vendors like AWS are also optimizing hardware for edge computing requirements such as power consumption, size, and heat generation.