Microsoft is going to make hardware for industry that runs AI via Azure

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Microsoft has announced a hardware and software platform that allows users to leverage artificial intelligence in Azure beyond the cloud platform. This allows companies in particular to build AI into products such as elevators or cash registers.

The new platform is called Azure Percept. It consists of several hardware modules that are combined with software that can be used with Azure AI. For example, there is an audio module and a Percept Vision, with which manufacturers can implement speech or image recognition in different environments. These devices connect to cloud service Azure, but can also perform on-device calculations if, for example, a fast internet connection is not available. A Trusted Platform module is also available, which can be used to secure networks.

The hardware connects to a development kit. This allows developers to unleash Cognitive Service and machine learning models from Azure. It is also possible to train the hardware with other AI models from the open source community, Microsoft says.

Microsoft says the platform is intended to make AI implementations in stores and industry easy to deploy. Microsoft is also collaborating with other developers and manufacturers for the platform. They can then build their own devices that fall under the Azure Percept platform. There are currently no known examples of this. Microsoft wants to announce more about this ‘in the coming months’.

Azure Percept comes with a development kit that includes the Percept Vision. Other modules are sold separately. The hardware is made according to an 80/20 T-slot frame. This standard makes it easy to implement the hardware in many industrial applications. The prices and availability of the hardware are not yet known.

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