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Google's new DIY AI kits could help shape the future
Google just announced two new "AIY" (it's like DIY, but for artificial intelligence) kits that build upon the ideas the company set forth with its first-generation kits. This time around, however, the new kits ship with everything a student might need to build AI solutions, including a Raspberry Pi Zero WH board.
"We're taking the first of many steps to help educators integrate AIY into STEM lesson plans and help prepare students for the challenges of the future by launching a new version of our AIY kits," Billy Rutledge, Director of AIY Projects at Google, wrote in a blog post. "The Voice Kit lets you build a voice controlled speaker, while the Vision Kit lets you build a camera that learns to recognize people and objects. The new kits make getting started a little easier with clearer instructions, a new app and all the parts in one box."
Also at The Verge.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 18 2018, @07:22AM
I watched their video. It says it works without a cloud and without a net connection, so the processing is local. However all the voice kit does is STT and the Vision kit sounded like it comes with a pre-trained NN which knows a 1000 common objects. It sort of sounded like you could train a new NN, but there was no indication of a UI to do so. The devices are enclosed in a cardboard box. These are close to expensive junk. A nice mini-book on how to make these systems with standard parts rather than the more expensive, Google branded parts would have been better. You aren't learning any AI. All the AI is done for you. Think of these as just sensors which can't plug into your project's existing hardware but instead require another power source, motherboard, and cardboard enclosure.
If they're more than that then they really need to work on their marketing. The article didn't even link to the project's home page (I'm assuming it has one). They included the marketing video, a link to a blog post announcing the devices, and a link to Target to buy them.
I see this project as a result of a 'designed by committe' process. For the future I predect Google will either toss a ton of money at it and you'll be able to buy a lot of expensive sensors in a poor imintation of Lego Mindstorms and actual electronic modules, or it'll quietly disappear in two years.