Leading IT infrastructure and services company, NTT Data, has unveiled its new edge AI platform to accelerate IT/OT convergence by bringing AI processing to the edge.
This solution enables real-time decisions, enhanced operational efficiencies and secure AI application deployment across industries to drive advanced Industry 4.0 technologies. While the spotlight has been on GenAI and Large Language Models (LLMs), these technologies are impractical for industries requiring real-time and local decision-making.
NTT DATA’s Edge AI solution addresses this challenge by processing massive data sets on compact computing platforms, using machine learning models to deliver real-time AI insights. It addresses data discovery, collection, integration, computation power, seamless connectivity and AI model management.
The Edge AI platform, supported by NTT DATA’s consulting data scientists addresses the shadow IoT challenge and AI infrastructure requirements. It does this by auto-discovering, unifying and processing data from IoT devices and IT assets across the organization, simplifying AI deployment and management.
Solving industry-specific challenges with AI-driven insights
Designed to support industry-specific requirements, the Edge AI platform leverages AI models, enabling it to run within a small compute box. Edge AI will perform specific tasks, such as supporting safety or operational efficiency, by collecting data from disparate devices across a network environment, enabling instantaneous and secure data processing and analytics.
Manufacturing operations could benefit from improved predictive maintenance by accessing IT/OT data from sensors, machinery, cameras and applications to plan and address failures. In addition, NTT DATA’s Edge AI can monitor and optimize energy consumption in real time, predicting energy spikes and optimizing machine usage, reducing costs and CO2 emissions with renewable energy.
“Our Edge AI platform represents a significant leap forward in driving AI at the edge securely and cost-effectively,” said Shahid Ahmed, Group Executive Vice President of Edge Services at NTT DATA. “By harmonizing data from disparate sensors and devices with lightweight AI models, powering all kinds of automation use-cases, NTT DATA’s Edge AI is pioneering industrial AI adoption as the first fully managed offering, helping organizations modernize with tailored, industry-specific solutions.”
According to IDC, worldwide spending on edge computing is expected to reach US$232 billion in 2024, an increase of 15% over 2023. This growth is perpetuated by the growing number of connected IoT devices worldwide, expected to exceed 41 billion by 2025.