Analog & AI: Advanced Technology Experts Take on Embedded World 2024

Key Insights & Timestamps:

• [00:00]: Podcast begins
• [01:02]: Analog Devices going digital with Jason Griffin
• [05:01]: Co-creation & go-to-market collaborations between Analog & their clients
• [17:20]: Nueromorphic analog signal processing with POLYN’s Aleksandr Timofeev
• [24:24]: Product & platform development for NASP tech
• [29:20]: AI for everyone with AIZIP’s Weier Wan
• [36:51]: Weier’s recent article on the next generation of virtual assistants
• [43:33]: Tria’s Martin Unverdorben talks standardized COMs
• [55:53]: Market trends in education & AI changing low-power solutions

Key Takeaways:

• Beyond producing chips and developing products for devices, Jason Griffin explains that Analog Devices is focusing on co-creation as well. It’s no longer just about solving domain-specific customer problems for Analog, but instead, taking a well-rounded approach, including professionals in UX design and cloud architecture in their client solutions process.
• POLYN’s first shipping technology will be available in January, according to the CEO Aleksandr Timofeev, who talks with Chris about POLYN’s unique NASP (neuromorphic analog signal processing) technology. NASP is a new way to process raw data and extract information on a sensor level with ultra low power and in real time.
• When people think of AI, they often imagine large models running on cloud, such as OpenAI and GoogleAI, but AIZIP is a software company focused on tiny yet efficient models running directly on your devices. According to Founding Member Weier Wan, AIZIP’s goal is to make AI broadly available to everyone, even in its smallest, simplest forms.
• Embedded computing will be vastly impacted by an increase in early education and in AI-integrated applications, according to Tria’s Martin Unverdorben. Martin finds the educational piece especially vital and groundbreaking, as both startups and large companies have struggled with a lack of strong computing and engineering knowledge throughout their teams.

Resources Mentioned:
Analog Devices | analog.com/en, POLYN Technology | polyn.ai, AIZIP | aizip.ai, Tria | tria-technologies.com

Guest Spotlight:
Jason Griffin, Managing Director of Software Product Experience at Analog Devices, Inc.

Jason Griffin has built a career leading high-performance, highly secure software solutions at Analog Devices Inc. Starting in 2001 as a Senior Systems Engineer, he has held various leadership roles, including Software Technology Group Manager and Director of Technology Solutions. He is currently responsible for customer tools and technology strategy as a Senior Director. Jason’s expertise lies in product innovation, solutions and architecture, and technology planning.

Guest Spotlight:
Aleksandr Timofeev, CEO & Founder at POLYN Technology

Aleksandr Timofeev is the CEO and Founder of POLYN Technology, which specializes in ultra-low-power Neuromorphic Analog Signal Processing (NASP) technology. With over 20 years of experience in the high-tech industry, he is a seasoned entrepreneur. Before founding POLYN in 2019, he launched iGlass Technology, a company focused on electrochromic smart glass, which he successfully sold to a strategic investor in 2020. Aleksandr also founded FPI VC, an early-stage venture investment firm that supports innovative startups. POLYN is a fabless semiconductor company that sells Analog Neuromorphic chips, targeting fast-growing markets like wearables and connected health. The company has two products available and is working on a third, and it was recently accepted into the Silicon Catalyst incubator. Aleksandr has held various executive roles in earlier startups, including Microbor and FreeStylePark, showcasing his adaptability and expertise in technology

Guest Spotlight:
Weier Wan, Founding Member at AIZIP

Weier Wan is a founding member of AIZIP, a Silicon Valley startup developing AI technologies for IoT and edge AI. With a Ph.D. from Stanford, he has contributed significantly to AI chip design and his work on processing-in-memory AI chips has been widely recognized.

Guest Spotlight:
Martin Unverdorben, Technical Information Manager at Tria (FKA Avnet Embedded)

After earning a degree in electronic engineering, Martin worked as a technical trainer in telecommunications before becoming a Field Application Engineer at Kontron. He also served as a Product Manager for SMARC and conducted customer training. Now, he is the Technical Information Manager at Tria.