Sony Group Corp (NYSE:SONY)’s semiconductor division is expanding the market for its artificial intelligence (AI) technology with a strategic investment in single-board computer maker Raspberry Pi.
The partnership is designed to give Raspberry Pi users a development platform for the company’s Aitrios edge computing AI platform used for image-sensing functions such as facial recognition.
Raspberry Pi devices deliver PC-like power in miniature form. They were originally designed as educational tools to teach subjects like robotics and coding, but they have gained popularity among coders looking to prototype Internet of Things and other devices.
"We are very pleased to be partnering with Raspberry Pi Ltd. to bring our Aitrios platform — which supports the development of unique and diverse solutions utilizing our edge AI devices — to the Raspberry Pi user and developer community, and provide a unique development experience," Sony Semiconductor Solutions president and CEO Terushi Shimizu said in a statement.
Sony's Aitrios could make Raspberry Pi devices even more powerful. Unlike cloud AI, Aitrios runs directly on chips to reduce latency, and Sony has pitched the system for uses like surveillance, security and more. This could include inventory monitoring and retention, customer counting, license plate recognition and employee analysis.
Sony noted that it preserves privacy by analyzing data strictly on-chip and only sending metadata to the cloud.
Shares of Sony climbed 1.2% Wednesday morning to $90.
Contact Andrew Kessel at andrew.kessel@proactiveinvestors.com
Follow him on Twitter @andrew_kessel