NTT DATA launches Edge AI to modernise industrial operations

NTT DATA has introduced its new Edge AI platform, which is designed to enhance the convergence of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) by bringing artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities directly to the edge.

The platform aims to address the complexities and inefficiencies associated with traditional AI models in industrial and manufacturing settings by providing real-time insights and decision-making capabilities.

While the field of edge computing is poised to grow significantly, capturing a market opportunity projected to reach USD $232 billion in 2024, the management and synthesis of IT/OT data from numerous devices remains a complex challenge. NTT DATA's Edge AI platform seeks to simplify these processes by automatically discovering, unifying, and processing data from a wide range of IoT devices and IT assets across organisations.

"Our Edge AI platform represents a significant leap forward in driving AI at the edge securely and cost-effectively," said Shahid Ahmed, Group Executive Vice President of Edge Services at NTT DATA. He added, "By harmonising data from disparate sensors and devices with lightweight AI models, powering all kinds of automation use cases, NTT DATA's Edge AI is pioneering industrial AI adoption as the first fully managed offering, helping organisations modernise with tailored, industry-specific solutions."

According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), global spending on edge computing is expected to see a 15% increase over 2023, reaching USD $232 billion by next year. This growth is driven by the rising number of connected IoT devices, projected to exceed 41 billion by 2025. NTT DATA aims to capitalise on this growing market with its comprehensive IoT consulting and services, which integrate predictive maintenance, fleet management, connected factories, energy consumption monitoring, and sustainability efforts.

The Edge AI platform, supported by a network of industry experts, data scientists, and global technical resources, offers a variety of features to meet industry-specific challenges. Smaller, task-specific AI models designed to operate on compact computing platforms enable real-time data processing and analytics. The platform can facilitate improved predictive maintenance, optimise energy consumption, and enhance operational efficiency, among other applications.

For example, manufacturing operations can benefit from Edge AI by accessing IT/OT data from sensors, machinery, cameras, and applications to plan and address equipment failures proactively. Additionally, the platform can monitor and optimise energy consumption in real-time, ultimately reducing costs and CO2 emissions by predicting energy spikes and optimising machine usage with renewable energy sources.

"A key challenge for enterprises is reliably capturing and aggregating operational data securely across a fragmented landscape of devices, platforms, and data sources and turning it into actionable insights," noted Alejandro Cadenas, Associate Vice President of Telco Mobility and IoT Research, IDC Europe. "NTT DATA's ultralight Edge AI addresses these issues and simplifies the deployment and adoption of a data-driven enterprise strategy, reducing risks and timelines, and optimising total cost of ownership and value for the enterprise."

The platform unifies and processes data from diverse IoT devices across the organisation, simplifying AI deployment and management. It also provides a view of firmware versions of all connected devices, ensuring device security and promoting vulnerability patching.

Pablo Tomasi, Principal Analyst of Private Network at Omdia, expressed further optimism regarding the benefits of Edge AI. "Computing and AI must happen where they create the most value for the enterprise; for many industrial enterprises, this is where the data is generated. By ingesting IT and OT data and leveraging AI models to drive use-case specific results, the NTT DATA solution takes another step towards realising the Industry 4.0 vision," he said. "Additionally, using task-specific small AI models will help drive AI democratisation by making it easier for the enterprise to introduce AI where and when needed, without the need for an extensive overhaul of their entire infrastructure."

NTT DATA's Edge AI deployment approach allows clients to benefit from a free 30-day discovery and diagnostic of their IT and OT environment. The software auto-discovers assets with its extensive library of pre-built OT interfaces, subsequently generating a comprehensive diagnostic report that inventories assets and data streams, including identification of security risks and vulnerabilities.

With the introduction of Edge AI, NTT DATA extends its Edge as a Service portfolio, which comprises Enterprise IoT, Edge Compute, Private 5G, and Device as a Service, offering a unified and managed approach to modernising industrial operations securely and efficiently.