NTT Data, a leading IT infrastructure and services company, has introduced its new Edge AI platform aimed at enhancing operational technology convergence and increasing efficiency in edge computing environments across the Internet of Things (IoT). The platform is designed to process data at the point of generation, unifying diverse IoT devices, systems, and data.
Shahid Ahmed, Group Executive Vice President of Edge Services at NTT Data, emphasized the significance of the platform in driving AI adoption at the edge securely and cost-effectively. By harmonizing data from various sensors and devices with lightweight AI models, the Edge AI platform enables automation use-cases and facilitates tailored, industry-specific solutions for organizations.
The platform’s lightweight and tailored approach addresses the limitations of generative artificial intelligence and large language models, making it more practical for industries that require real-time localized decision-making. NTT Data’s Edge AI solution processes massive data sets on compact computing platforms, utilizing smaller and more efficient machine learning models for real-time AI.
Pablo Tomasi, Principal Analyst at Omdia, highlighted the potential of task-specific small AI models in driving AI democratization and enabling enterprises to introduce AI without extensive infrastructure overhauls. The NTT Data solution ingests operational technology and IT data, leveraging AI models to deliver use case-specific results and contribute to the realization of the industry 4.0 vision.
The Edge AI platform is presented as an all-inclusive managed service platform, providing comprehensive AI model management and supporting functions for edge use cases. It encompasses data discovery, collection, integration, computation power, seamless connectivity, and other essential elements required for successful AI deployment at the edge.
NTT Data aims to address the challenges posed by shadow IT, which can arise from the proliferation of connected IoT devices. The company’s consulting data scientists possess the expertise to tackle shadow IoT challenges and meet AI infrastructure requirements. The Edge AI platform auto-discovers, unifies, and processes data from IoT devices and IT assets, simplifying AI deployment and management.
The platform’s potential applications span various industries, including manufacturing, where it can enhance predictive maintenance and optimize energy consumption in real-time. NTT Data has already trained over 500 sales experts globally to accelerate the go-to-market efforts of its Edge AI solution.
The emergence of more specifically engineered technology functions tailored to edge use cases reflects a broader trend in the IT landscape. NTT Data’s approach aligns with the leaner and more lightweight paradigm, enabling intelligent devices to become smarter, more manageable, and sustainable.