Google has partnered with semiconductor startup Movidius to bring deep learning to smartphones. Movidius specializes in computer vision and helped with Google’s Project Tango 3D mapping effort.
Google’s Android handsets are already able to identify objects in photos, but a network connection is required to send the images to Google’s servers where the calculations take place. This new venture will see smartphones handle object recognition on their own, independent from Google’s servers.
Under its arrangement with Movidius, Google plans to purchase an unspecified number of the company’s MA2450 chips along with the necessary software.
“By working with Movidius, we’re able to expand this technology beyond the data center and out into the real world, giving people the benefits of machine intelligence on their personal devices,” said Google.
Movidius’ chief executive said it believes Google will add these features to smartphones sooner rather than later, but Google has not spelled out exactly how the MA2450 will be put to use in future handsets.
