Ceva Expands Embedded AI NPU Ecosystem
In recent developments highlighted at CES 2025, Ceva, Inc. (NASDAQ: CEVA) has announced significant expansions in its embedded AI NPU ecosystem that promise to enhance the development of Smart Edge devices. With the launch of strategic partnerships alongside advanced tool integrations, Ceva is set to deliver faster, more efficient solutions that cater to the growing demands for personalization, convenience, and security in modern devices.
New Collaborations Made Public
The new collaborations with key players such as Cyberon Corporation and AIZIP are tailored to provide pre-optimized AI models for Ceva's NeuPro-Nano NPUs. These advancements significantly streamline the development process for high-demand uses like keyword spotting, face recognition, and speaker identification. By leveraging these ready-to-use neural network models, device manufacturers can reduce their time-to-market.
Furthermore, Ceva has expanded its work with Edge Impulse, announcing an integration of Edge Impulse Studio with support for NVIDIA TAO Toolkit. This partnership provides developers with tools to construct end-to-end AI applications more efficiently, ensuring that the deployments are both straightforward and robust.
Chad Lucien, vice president and general manager of the sensor and audio business unit at Ceva, remarked, "We are excited to welcome Cyberon and AIZIP into our embedded AI ecosystem. Their contributions enhance the NeuPro-Nano's value proposition by targeting real-world applications to elevate user experience. This collaborative approach simplifies AI adoption, promoting power-efficient and high-performance solutions tailored for Smart Edge applications."
Driving Innovations Through AIZIP
AIZIP stands out as a leader in production-ready AI models, specializing in diverse applications including vision and audio. The collective effort with Ceva is set to enhance capabilities in sensor fusion, particularly through the integration of AIZIP's Face Detection model with Ceva's NeuPro-Nano NPU. This merger illustrates how AIZIP aims to minimize AI workloads, catering to cost-effective embedded systems and expanding the capabilities of Ceva's technology.
Yuan Lu, co-founder and president of AIZIP, states, "Our objective is to streamline the implementation of edge AI for smart devices by merging sophisticated sensor fusion capabilities with Ceva's highly efficient NPU architecture. Our collaboration focuses on optimizing performance across numerous AI workloads."
Cyberon's Contribution to Speech Recognition
On the speech recognition front, Cyberon Corporation has brought its expertise to the table with optimized speech recognition technologies. Their DSpotter solution is specifically designed for the Ceva-NeuPro-Nano NPU, enhancing accuracy even in challenging noise environments while maintaining ultra-low power consumption. This offline neural network model supports reliable, interactive experiences with mobile and portable devices, marking a leap toward more seamless user interaction.
Alex Liou, VP of Cyberon, emphasized, "The partnership with Ceva allows us to deliver exceptional keyword spotting technology on an ultra-efficient NPU, thus enabling continuous, hands-free user interactions that enhance the overall device experience."
Integration with Edge Impulse and Future-Proofing Development
In extending previous collaborations, Ceva and Edge Impulse are integrating NVIDIA’s pre-trained TAO models into their offerings. This collaboration facilitates the retraining and optimization of AI models on the Ceva-NeuPro-Nano NPU. The integration promises accurate emulation of full end-to-end AI applications, allowing developers to gauge performance effectively prior to fabrication.
Zach Shelby, CEO of Edge Impulse, noted, "Our work in translating AI/ML models for efficient deployment ensures NPUs like Ceva-NeuPro-Nano are fully equipped to utilize their capabilities. With these advancements, we intend to unlock innovative possibilities across various industries, focusing on visual data processing and analytics."
Availability and Future Prospects
Ceva's NeuPro-Nano NPUs and the newly optimized neural networks from Cyberon and AIZIP are currently available for licensing. The Edge Impulse Platform is also expected to be accessible soon, further enhancing the toolkit available for developers focusing on embedded AI applications. As Ceva continues to invest in its partnerships and technological advancements, it aims to maintain its leadership in the Smart Edge domain, empowering next-gen devices with cutting-edge capabilities.
For more information, visit Ceva's official website at
www.ceva-ip.com and follow their updates on social media platforms.