Don’t you just love it when rivals sit together on a table? Microsoft and Sony have announced a new partnership focused on the Azure AI system that will see the Japanese giant integrate it into its smart camera sensors.
As per the details provided, the goal of this new alliance is to help the joint customers of the two firms to explore new opportunities in video analytics.
Sony will implement Azure AI tools into its intelligent vision sensor IMX500 in order to boost the capacity of its smart camera sensor system. A smart camera app powered by Azure IoT and Cognitive Services will also be produced by Sony.
Not only will it support the sensor, it will also enable businesses to create their own custom video analytics and computer vision solutions.
Microsoft’s corporate vice president and commercial chief marketing officer, Takeshi Numoto:
“Video analytics and smart cameras can drive better business insights and outcomes across a wide range of scenarios for businesses. Through this partnership, we’re combining Microsoft’s expertise in providing trusted, enterprise-grade AI and analytics solutions with Sony’s established leadership in the imaging sensors market to help uncover new opportunities for our mutual customers and partners.”
OEMs that make smart cameras will also gain access to the system in order to add value to their hardware products.
While Microsoft and Sony have an intense rivalry in the video games space, with their competing Xbox and PlayStation line of consoles, this isn’t the first time the two companies have collaborated or shared technology.
It was just last year that we found out that Sony began using Microsoft Azure datacenters and solutions for its content and game streaming services.
If anything, that initial agreement seemed to have laid the groundwork for this latest announcement.
