In a major leap for edge AI processing, NTT Corporation has announced a groundbreaking AI inference chip that can process real-time 4K video at 30 frames per second—using less than 20 watts of power. This new large-scale integration (LSI) chip is the first in the world to achieve such high-performance AI video inferencing in power-constrained environments, making it a breakthrough for edge computing applications.
Revealed during NTT’s Upgrade 2025 summit in San Francisco, the chip is designed specifically for deployment in edge devices—hardware located physically close to the source of data, like drones, smart cameras, and sensors. Unlike traditional AI systems that rely on cloud computing for inferencing, this chip brings powerful AI capabilities directly to the edge, drastically reducing latency and eliminating the need to transmit ultra-high-definition video to centralized cloud servers for analysis.
Edge Computing vs. Cloud Computing: Why It Matters
In traditional cloud computing, data from devices like drones or cameras is sent to remote data centers—often located hundreds or thousands of miles away—where it’s processed and analyzed. While this approach offers virtually unlimited compute power, it introduces delays due to data transmission, which is problematic for real-time applications like autonomous navigation, security monitoring, and live decision-making.
By contrast, edge computing processes data locally, on or near the device itself. This reduces latency, preserves bandwidth, and enables real-time insights even in environments with limited or intermittent internet connectivity. It also enhances privacy and data security by minimizing the need to transmit sensitive data over public networks.
NTT’s new AI chip fully embraces this edge-first philosophy—delivering real-time 4K video analysis directly within the device, without relying on the cloud.
A New Era for Real-Time AI on Drones and Devices
With this chip installed, a drone can detect people or objects from up to 150 meters (492 feet)—the legal altitude limit for drones in Japan. That’s a dramatic improvement over traditional real-time AI systems, which are generally limited to a 30-meter range due to lower resolution or processing speed.
This advancement enables a host of new use cases, including:
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Infrastructure inspections in hard-to-reach places
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Disaster response in areas with limited connectivity
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Agricultural monitoring across wide fields
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Security and surveillance without constant cloud uplinks
All of this is achieved with a chip that consumes less than 20 watts—dramatically lower than the hundreds of watts required by GPU-powered AI servers, which are impractical for mobile or battery-powered systems.
Inside the Chip: NTT’s Proprietary AI Inference Engine
The LSI’s performance hinges on NTT’s custom-built AI inference engine, which ensures high-speed, accurate results while minimizing power use. Key innovations include:
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Interframe correlation: By comparing sequential video frames, the chip reduces redundant calculations, improving efficiency.
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Dynamic bit-precision control: This technique adjusts the numerical precision required on the fly, using fewer bits for simpler tasks, conserving energy without compromising accuracy.
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Native YOLOv3 execution: The chip supports direct execution of You Only Look Once v3, one of the fastest real-time object detection algorithms in machine learning.
These combined features allow the chip to deliver robust AI performance in environments previously considered too power- or bandwidth-limited for advanced inferencing.
Path to Commercialization and the IOWN Vision
NTT plans to commercialize the chip within fiscal year 2025 through its operating company, NTT Innovative Devices Corporation.
Researchers are already exploring its integration into the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN)—NTT’s next-generation infrastructure vision aimed at overhauling the digital backbone of modern society. Within IOWN’s Data-Centric Infrastructure (DCI), the chip would take advantage of the All-Photonics Network for ultra-low latency, high-speed communication, complementing the local processing power it brings to edge devices.
NTT is also collaborating with NTT DATA, Inc. to combine the chip’s capabilities with its Attribute-Based Encryption (ABE) technology, which enables secure, fine-grained access control over sensitive data. Together, these technologies will support AI applications that require both speed and security—such as in healthcare, smart cities, and autonomous systems.
A Legacy of Innovation and a Vision for the Future
This AI inference chip is the latest demonstration of NTT’s mission to empower a sustainable, intelligent society through deep technological innovation. As a global leader with over $92 billion in revenue, 330,000 employees, and $3.6 billion in annual R&D, NTT serves more than 75% of Fortune Global 100 companies and millions of consumers across 190 countries.
Whether it’s drones flying beyond the visual line of sight, cameras detecting events in real-time without cloud dependency, or securing data flows with attribute-based encryption, NTT’s new chip sets the stage for the next frontier in AI at the edge—where intelligence meets immediacy.
