Autonomous vehicles, industrial robots, drones need to sense the environment and react accordingly in real-time. However, traditional computing architectures process all the input data regardless of context; this can be inefficient as it introduces high latency and power penalties, claims GrAI Matter Labs (GML). This is what this Paris-based company aims to fix.
GML’s mission is to bring – the fastest edge AI per Watt – for sensor analytics and machine learning to every device on the edge.
Edge AI means that AI algorithms are processed locally on a hardware device. A device using Edge AI does not need to be connected in order to work properly; it can process data and take decisions independently without a connection.
Raises €11.6M
In a recent development, the Paris-based developer of neuromorphic computing technology has raised $14M (approx €11.6M) in a fresh round of funding, led by iBionext.
The round also saw participation from existing investors and new investors Bpifrance through the Future Investment Program and Celeste Management.
The company is backed by existing investors including iBionext, 360 Capital Partners, and 3T Finance, and has offices in Paris, Eindhoven, the Netherlands, and Silicon Valley.
How will GrAI Matter Labs use the fund?
GrAI Matter Labs’ programmable NeuronFlow technology enables inference latency efficiently. Its current accelerator chip GrAI One and the GrAI One HDK are available for product evaluation and application programming.
The company claims that the upcoming GrAI full-stack AI system-on-chip platform will drive a significant step in visual inference capabilities in robotics, industrial automation, AR/VR, and surveillance products and markets.
The raised capital will help to accelerate the company’s design and market launch of its first GrAI full-stack AI system-on-chip platform.
Speaking on the development, Ingolf Held, CEO of GrAI Matter Labs, says, “We are excited to bring the fastest AI per Watt to every device on the edge. This funding will help us to partner with application specialists and integrators, and to deliver best-in-class visual inference performance, system-on-chip platforms, and end-to-end applications to our customers.”
What does GrAI Matter Labs do?
GrAI Matter Labs (GML) was founded in 2016 as Brainiac within the iBionext Start-up Studio in Paris by Ryad Benosman, Bernard Gilly, Giacomo Indiveri, Xavier Lagorce, Sio-Hoi Leng, Bernabe Linares-Barranco, and Atul Sinha, a team combining extensive experience in neuromorphic computing, silicon design, and entrepreneurship.
Currently, the company is led by CEO Ingolf Held.
GrAI Matter Lab’s technology is based on research carried out at the Vision Institute (UPMC) in Paris on the human brain during the past 20 years. Inspired by human biology, the company’s unique neuromorphic computing paradigm overcomes the limitations of Von Neumann machines, offering parallel and fully programmable sensor analytics and machine learning at significantly reduced power consumption.
Its programmable application processors provide AI with machine learning capabilities across the Internet of Things. These processors power autonomous navigation platforms, enabling cars, robots, and drones to navigate with performance/power optimised AI for safety and convenience.
Other focus areas include intelligent cognitive assistants to bring AI to smart homes & smartphones, and wearable AI for smart health monitoring, practically invisible and consuming minimal power, claims the company.
Image credit: LinkedIn
