Amazon outs DeepLens based on AI and machine learning to take on Google

Amazon Web Services on Thursday announced DeepLens, a wireless camera that uses deep learning to provide tools to help developers design and create artificial intelligence and machine learning products. Amazon wants companies to incorporate AI and its image recognition tech into their products by providing an easy-to-use interface and necessary tools. The $249 camera is available on pre-order and will begin shipping next year.

DeepLens is powered by Intel Atom X5 processor with embedded graphics to support object detection and recognition, Amazon says. The camera features a 4-megapixel sensor that shoots videos in 1080p and supports Wi-Fi, microSD card and 8GB of RAM. Specs apart, the USP of DeepLens is that AI is baked right in so as to provide both pre-configured and real-time computer vision models directly on the device that promises to be faster and cost-effective for developers.

"These models will help you detect cats and dogs, faces, a wide array of household and everyday objects, motions and actions, and even hot dogs," AWS' Jeff Barr said. "We will continue to train these models, making them better and better over time." The company adds that DeepLens supports Apache MXNet, while support for Tensorflow and Caffe2 will come in the first quarter of 2018.

Companies like Amazon and Google are investing heavily on AI and machine learning to create a smarter ecosystem. Much like how Google operates with its own products, DeepLens will be integrated with cloud and AI services from AWS. Amazon recently also tied up with Intel to bring Intel Speech Enabling Developer Kit that provides a complete audio front-end solutions to third-party developers to design products integrating Alexa.

"We are seeing a new wave of innovation throughout the smart home, triggered by advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning," said Miles Kingston, general manager of the Smart Home Group at Intel. "DeepLens brings together the full range of Intel's hardware and software expertise to give developers a powerful tool to create new experiences, providing the limitless potential for smart home integrations."

 - According to Indiatoday news