Intel Corp. is shutting down its RealSense artificial-intelligence vision division to focus on its core chip business, according to a report from CRN.

An Intel spokesperson told CRN that it would honor current customer commitments and apply the technical expertise it had developed through the division to support other functions within its core business.

“We are winding down our RealSense business and transitioning our computer vision talent, technology and products to focus on advancing innovative technologies that better support our core businesses and IDM 2.0 strategy,” the spokesperson is quoted as saying.

The announcement comes two weeks after Sagi Ben Moshe, the head of the RealSense division, said on LinkedIn  that he was leaving Intel.

RealSense was founded in 2015 and offered depth and tracking technologies designed to give machines and devices depth perception capabilities. The technology is used in autonomous drones, robots, augmented and virtual reality and smart home devices, among others.

The technology was perhaps best publicly known for its use in VR and AR, debuting at the Game Developers Conference in 2016. Later the same year, Intel acquired mobile vision processor chip maker Movidius Ltd. to boost its efforts in areas such as drones and VR headsets.

Intel made a number of announcements relating to RealSense over the years, including the debut of the RealSense Lidar Camera L515 in December 2019. In October, Intel announced DWS, a software product that streamlines supply operations of companies that use the L515 camera.

The last significant announcement regarding RealSense came in January. Intel announced that it was adding new facial recognition hardware and software to the RealSense lineup. The RealSense ID system works with RealSense camera technology for use in retail and secure access control environments.

The announcement comes as Intel Chief Executive Officer Pat Gelsinger has stated that the company would focus more strongly on its core chip business. Gelsinger outlined plans in March to make the veteran chipmaker more competitive with rivals after losing ground for years.

Image: Intel