Navigating the edge: A recap of key edge computing developments in 2023
The year kicked off with a strong focus on edge computing at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), where major tech players showcased advancements in edge devices, AI processing at the edge, and the growing integration of edge computing into everyday consumer products. CES aside, the marriage of 5G technology and edge reached new heights as edge computing continued to expand.
This roundup provides a glimpse into the diverse and dynamic landscape of edge computing throughout the year, showcasing its impact on various industries and its role in shaping the future of technology.
January: The rise of edge computing and a new business network
Five years ago, an infamous Gartner blog said, “The Edge will Eat the Cloud.” The gist was that while everyone was rushing to the cloud, Gartner saw a rush in the other direction – to the edge–driven by a need for lower latency and near-real-time processing. Fast forward five years, and with edge computing now forecasted to be an $800B market by 2028, it’s a perfect time to revisit the topic.
February: IDC predicts edge computing investments to reach $317 billion by 2026
The IDC spending guide forecasts worldwide spending on edge computing will reach $317 billion by 2026. Meanwhile, the same industry analysts estimate that expenditure on edge computing will reach $208 billion by 2023, an increase of 13.1% from the 2022 levels. IDC says that service provider and enterprise spending on software, hardware and services for edge solutions drive this growth.
“Edge computing has gone mainstream,” says Dave McCarthy, research vice president, Cloud and Edge Infrastructure Services at IDC. “The ability to distribute applications and data to field locations is a key element of most digital transformation initiatives.”
March: Compass Datacenters previews new Quantum model
Compass Datacenters, a provider of custom data centers, has recently announced that its latest Quantum model, the Generation 4 Unit, is about to roll off its production line in Colorado.
The company will host customers in person or via Zoom this March and April. Compass Quantum’s White Space as a Service offering provides the ability to quickly and easily add extra edge data center capacity at any location.
April: Siemens, Microsoft join forces to bring generative AI to factory automation
Siemens and Microsoft have partnered to use generative artificial intelligence to help industrial companies in various aspects such as product design, engineering, manufacturing and operations. Siemens’ Teamcenter software for product lifecycle management will integrate with Microsoft’s Teams platform and Azure OpenAI Service language models, as part of the collaboration.
The development of OpenAI’s ChatGPT has sparked discussions about generative AI and led to significant technological advancements in various industries.
May: Tevel, Spectro Cloud take flying fruit-picking robots to the next level with Kubernetes
Kubernetes is being deployed in the field — literally – by Israel-based Tevel. Tevel recently announced that they will be using Spectro Cloud’s Kubernetes platform to improve the productivity of their AI-enabled flying fruit-picking robots.
According to Tevel, their fruit-picking robots address the issue that up to 30% of the world’s fruit is not being picked on time because of difficulties with logistics and labor.
June: Nokia, DXC Technology come together to provide a private wireless network
Nokia has disclosed its collaboration with DXC Technology to develop a comprehensive solution for private wireless networks and 5G managed services. This joint effort will include hardware and software development in areas such as radio access network (RAN), core, OT-grade network edge, CBRS and other integrated capabilities for private networks.
Nokia and DXC Technology plan to partner to provide secure connectivity tools for organizations in manufacturing, energy, healthcare, supply chain and transportation. As digital transformation progresses, secure connectivity has become an essential aspect of organizations.
July: Lightbend: bridging the cloud and edge application development gap
EdgeIR interviewed Jonas Bonér, CEO and founder of Lightbend, to talk about how the company is helping organizations reduce the complexity of cloud and edge-native enterprise application development. The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.
August: Qualcomm, Meta join forces to bring generative AI to edge devices
Qualcomm Technologies and Meta have directly integrated Llama 2 Large Language Models (LLM) on devices, reducing dependence on cloud services. This partnership aims to bring on-device LLM implementation to various AI applications running on edge devices like intelligent virtual assistants, productivity tools and entertainment apps.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon platform supports the implementation. This high-processing solution enables efficient AI operations even in areas without internet connectivity.
September: BrainChip, VVDN Technologies together develop Edge Box based on neuromorphic technology
BrainChip, a company known for its neuromorphic computing devices, has formed a strategic partnership with VVDN Technologies, an electronics engineering and manufacturing firm. Together, they collaboratively developed the Edge Box, an edge device designed to process data and perform computations directly at the network edge.
The Edge Box hardware platform leverages neuromorphic technology, using AI algorithms and hardware architecture inspired by the complexities of human brain functionality. Both companies say the solution improves power efficiency and performance for applications situated at the edge.
October: Edge computing in agriculture: Enhancing farming efficiency and sustainability
Agriculture, as one of the world’s oldest and most critical industries, has always been at the forefront of innovation to meet the growing demand for food, fiber, and fuel. In recent years, the integration of cutting-edge technology, specifically edge computing, has evolved the agricultural sector.
November: Schneider Electric integrates Hailo-8 processor in its industrial automation solutions
Schneider Electric, a company specializing in energy management and automation solutions, has entered into a partnership with Hailo Technologies, an Israeli AI chip manufacturer. The collaboration aims to incorporate Hailo’s AI processors into Schneider Electric’s network infrastructure, enabling real-time data analysis at the network’s edge. The company notes it selected Hailo AI processors because of its low power consumption.
Schneider Electric anticipates that the integration of Hailo processors will empower them to leverage intelligence and efficiency in their industrial automation solutions.
December: Premio expands its portfolio with five new rugged edge computing solutions
Premio Inc. has announced the release of its family of Intel 12th/13th Generation, UL-Certified fanless/fanned x86 rugged edge computers and a micro-ATX motherboard.
The rugged edge/embedded computing company says these industrial computing solutions are designed for real-time processing and high-speed data telemetry with technologies for hardware acceleration. Premio’s product release features a variety of UL Listed computing solutions for mission-critical applications that leverage ruggedized x86 computers.
EU invests in edge and cloud computing with a 1.2 billion euro infusion
Article Topics
5G | edge computing | generative AI | LLMs | rugged edge
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