Sony, Microsoft unveil latest joint AI play

Sony’s semiconductor division and Microsoft announced a
collaboration to develop AI video analytics systems for enterprise
and industrial use, a year after the two inked a gaming-focused
partnership.

In a statement, the companies explained they plan to combine
Sony Semiconductor Solutions’ image and sensing chips with
Microsoft’s cloud and AI platform to produce advanced video
analytics systems.

The companies plan to embed Microsoft Azure AI capabilities into
Sony’s recently launched IMX500 vision sensor, designed for use
with enterprise smart camera systems. An app providing Azure IoT
software will be designed to work alongside the chip to provide
analytics.

“This integration will result in smarter, more advanced
cameras for use in enterprise scenarios as well as a more efficient
allocation of resources between the edge and the cloud to drive
cost and power consumption efficiencies,” the companies
added.

In addition to product developments, Microsoft and Sony will
also work with other partners on video analytics research at
Microsoft’s AI and IoT innovation labs.

The latest collaboration adds to acloud
gaming and AI partnership
designed to support their respective
content streaming and gaming plays.

At the time the two said they also planned to explore the
possibility of working together on intelligent imaging solutions,
leading to the latest announcement.

Originally published by
Chris
Donkin
| May 19, 2020

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