Brainchip puts Akida 2 into the cloud

BrainChip has introduced a new cloud-based access to its Akida 2 neuromorphic AI architecture. The BrainChip Developer Akida Cloud enables developers to stream real-time data to Akida Cloud, conduct inferencing, and stream the results back locally. An eye-tracking demo offers immediate results for measuring accuracy and facilitating the iteration of model training to enhance results under various operating conditions.

Priced at $4995 for one week’s access, the cloud service targets corporate customers who are evaluating the spiking neural network technology for rapid prototyping and initiating software development concurrently with hardware design. The company emphasizes that the service is not initially aimed at grassroots developers, with priority given to corporate partners due to limited capacity.

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“Many of these companies will likely choose an FPGA platform on-site to safeguard their data and models, enabling them to showcase disconnected edge AI applications after thorough testing in Akida Cloud. Pricing adjustments will be considered as capacity increases,” the company stated.

Furthermore, the cloud service is available for developers to test for free for one day, although they will be placed in a queue behind corporate users. To support grassroots developers, a $100 discount is being promoted for the Akida1000 boards to facilitate their entry into the technology.

The enhanced Akida 2 architecture boasts four times the performance and efficiency of its predecessor, Akida 1. This advancement empowers developers to construct more intricate models with architectural backing for 8-bit quantization. Akida 2 now supports new models such as state-space based Temporal Event-Based Neural Nets (TENNs), enhancing the processing of raw temporal data from video, audio, and sensors.

Jonathan Tapson, BrainChip’s chief development officer, highlighted the benefits of the developer cloud, stating, “Our developer cloud offers immediate access to the latest Akida technology, ensuring swift and easy delivery of our Akida products to customers. This streamlines the development process, reduces model size, and expedites the deployment of advanced AI in edge applications across various industries.”

Hélder Rodríguez López, Embedded Software Research Engineer at Arquimea Research, praised the Akida Cloud for providing advanced access to the latest Akida features and facilitating remote testing of neuromorphic model innovations. This capability is a significant advantage for advancing advanced model development programs, according to López.