Amazon Web Services launches DeepLens, a deep learning-enabled wireless video camera

Amazon Web Services has announced DeepLens, its first fully programmable, deep learning-enabled wireless video camera designed for developers. It was revealed during AWS CEO Andy Jassy's keynote at its annual re: Invent conference in Las Vegas.

AWS and Intel collaborated on the DeepLens camera to provide builders of all skill levels with the optimal tools needed to design and create artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning products. AI and machine learning are poised to power a new generation of smart industries, including smart homes, smart retail, smart industrial and many others.

This collaboration strengthen Intel's commitment to providing developers with tools to create AI and machine learning products, and follows the recent introduction of the Intel Speech Enabling Developer Kit, which provides a complete audio front-end solution for far-field voice control and makes it easier for third-party developers to accelerate the design of consumer products integrating Alexa Voice Service.

DeepLens combines high amounts of processing power with an easy-to-learn user interface to support the training and deployment of models in the cloud.

Powered by an Intel Atom X5 processor with embedded graphics that support object detection and recognition, the wireless video camera uses Intel-optimized deep learning software tools and libraries (including the Intel Compute Library for Deep Neural Networks, Intel clDNN) to run real-time computer vision models directly on the device for reduced cost and real-time responsiveness.

"We are seeing a new wave of innovation throughout the smart home, triggered by advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning," said Miles Kingston, general manager of the Smart Home Group at Intel.

"DeepLens brings together the full range of Intel's hardware and software expertise to give developers a powerful tool to create new experiences, providing limitless potential for smart home integrations," he added further.

Developers can start designing and creating AI and machine learning products in a matter of minutes using the pre-configured frameworks already on the device. As such, DeepLens already supports Apache MXNet, and it will provide support for Tensorflow and Caffe2 in Q1 2018.