Microsoft Unveils Azure Percept to Simplify Edge Artificial Intelligence
Microsoft introduces Azure Percept, a combined hardware and software platform designed to help businesses easily deploy AI models at the edge. The initial rollout includes development kits for both vision and audio use cases.
Microsoft announces Azure Percept, a new hardware and software platform that brings Azure AI services directly to the edge. This end-to-end solution combines Microsoft’s cloud tools for device management and AI model creation with hardware from partner manufacturers to help businesses easily implement AI for tasks like object detection and shelf analytics.
To support this launch, Microsoft releases the Azure Percept Vision development kit, which features an intelligent camera and hardware-enabled AI modules for running vision models locally or in the cloud. The company also introduces Azure Percept Audio for voice-centric applications, starting with these two most common AI workloads to provide a blueprint for future device manufacturers.
Azure Percept devices connect automatically to Azure’s IoT hub and give users access to Azure cognitive services and machine learning models. Microsoft plans to certify third-party devices over the coming months so that customers can seamlessly transition their prototypes into production without performing additional work, all while adhering to Microsoft's responsible AI principles and strict security standards.