Microsoft Corp. on Monday afternoon announced an agreement with Sony Corp. to supply technology for the IMX500, a new image sensor touted as first in the world with the ability to run artificial intelligence models. 

Sony is the top image sensor supplier to the smartphone industry and has a presence in other segments as well. The IMX500 is designed to power enterprise systems such as industrial cameras for monitoring product lines. It can record at 4K resolution and has a tiny built-in AI chip, as well as onboard memory, that allow it to run computer vision algorithms locally.

Sony will work with Microsoft to embed unspecified “Azure AI technology” directly into the IMX500. Additionally, the Japanese electronics giant will build a platform on Azure cloud infrastructure that will enable enterprises to build custom AI models for the image sensor. The cloud platform aims to reduce development times by simplifying “key workflows” and providing pre-packaged features “designed to protect data privacy and security” so customers won’t have to build everything from scratch.

Lastly, the deal with Sony will see Microsoft offer AI development assistance to IMX500 customers via its AI & IoT Insider Labs consulting practice. The companies are targeting hardware makers looking to build more sophisticated smart camera products. They also see the sensor finding use among certain enterprises with specialized needs, such as industrial firms and retailers, that may want to design their own custom hardware for use cases like store automation. 

Takeshi Numoto, chief marketing officer for Microsoft’s commercial business, said that “through this partnership, we’re combining Microsoft’s expertise in providing trusted, enterprise-grade AI and analytics solutions with Sony’s established leadership in the imaging sensors market to help uncover new opportunities for our mutual customers and partners.”

Microsoft is building out an an end-to-end product lineup in Azure for powering ‘internet of things’ projects. The linchpin of the effort is the recently launched Azure Sphere suite. It includes a custom Linux-based operating system for connected devices, processors, security subsystems and cloud services to handle tasks such as pushing out software updates.

If Microsoft has its way, the 5G networks through which tomorrow’s IoT devices will communicate will be powered by Azure too. The company recently made a pair of high-profile acquisitions that bought it software for building and managing 5G networks.

Microsoft is also working to bring its cloud infrastructure closer to customers’ devices. This year, the company revealed plans to set up edge computing environments in major metropolitan areas that will allow enterprises to run backend IoT applications in closer physical proximity to the devices, thus lowering latency.

The deal with Sony, the world’s leading supplier of smartphone image sensors, is a notable win for Microsoft as it tries to woo device makers and their customers. It’s a high-profile vote of confidence in Azure’s capabilities. Moreover, the collaboration creates an opening for Microsoft to win more business from enterprises that adopt the AI-infused IMX500 sensor, which is why the tech giant is offering Sony customers AI development assistance through its AI & IoT Insider Labs practice as part of the partnership. 

Image: Microsoft