STMicroelectronics NPU-Accelerated STM32 Microcontrollers Boost Edge AI Development

STMicroelectronics is making embedded artificial intelligence (AI) on-device widely available with its new STM32 microcontroller series. These new NPU-accelerated microcontrollers, which have been available to selected companies since October 2023 and are now available in high volumes, integrate accelerated machine-learning (ML) capabilities for the first time. This makes it possible to run computer vision, audio processing, sound analysis and more directly in low-power, cost-sensitive products.

Starkey, the privately held hearing technology company from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, is pushing ahead of the competition once again with the introduction of Edge AI, an innovative hearing technology building on the success of its Genesis AI platform. As the name implies, Edge AI represents the next leap in neural processing on-device applied to hearing assistance, in a modern LE Audio platform already featuring Auracast broadcast streaming capabilities.

Ceva and Edge Impulse announced a collaboration to rapidly develop, train and deploy advanced embedded machine learning (ML) applications on Ceva's neural processing units with cycle-accurate performance, even before physical hardware is available. This first-of-its-kind collaboration based around Ceva's NPU IP ensures that developers can accurately benchmark and refine the performance of their edge AI models using Edge Impulse's platform, significantly accelerating the time-to-market.

Femtosense, in partnership with ABOV Semiconductor in South Korea, has launched the AI-ADAM-100, an artificial intelligence microcontroller unit (AI MCU) built on sparse AI technology to enable on-device AI features such as voice-based control in home appliances and other products. According to the Silicon Valley startup, the new AI-ADAM-100 AI MCU is a low-power, low-cost option for on-device language processing and voice-cleanup capabilities.