Socionext and Gyrfalcon Will Offer New Low-Power Artificial Intelligence Systems

Yokohama, December 20, 2017 – Socionext Inc., a leader in advanced SoC solutions for video and imaging systems, has signed a strategic partnership agreement for the development of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform with Silicon Valley, California-based Gyrfalcon Technology Inc. The combination of Gyrfalcon’s proprietary AI accelerator chip and Socionext’s high-efficiency parallel processor system will create a high-speed, high-density, low-power system to perform image and video analysis, recognition and segmentation in surveillance systems, live-streaming and other video applications.

Socionext expects to start sales of the jointly-developed solution with AI capabilities in mid-March, 2018. Turkish electronics maker Bilkon Ltd, which provides surveillance systems for a public agency in Turkey, will be one of Socionext’s first customers to apply the AI solution. Requirements for a similar solution are growing, and Socionext and Gyrfalcon will work together to expand the business in the global market.

Gyrfalcon Technology Inc. was founded in February 2017 by veterans experienced in AI and semiconductors. Gyrfalcon is developing a series of extremely flexible and effective AI accelerator chips that emphasize super power efficiency and massive parallel computing.  Socionext offers a high-efficiency, parallel multi-core processor SynQuacer^TM SC2A11 as a server solution for various applications. Integrating Socionext’s SC2A11 with Gyrfalcon’s AI technologies will lead to the creation of a unique, small-size, lower-power AI server solution for tasks previously done within a large-scale data center server. This new solution will provide the same performance as a standard configuration system currently in use, but with only one-eighth the power consumption.

“It is my pleasure to announce our new strategic partnership with Gyrfalcon,” said Yasuo Nishiguchi, Chairman and CEO at Socionext. “We are convinced we can create innovative solutions through the integration of Gyrfalcon's unique AI technology with Socionext’s advanced SoC technology. This collaboration is a valuable contribution to both companies’ presence in a rapidly growing AI market.”

“We are excited to have the opportunity to work with Socionext as a strategic partner, to create the most advanced super low-power, high performance AI systems to address the edge market as well as the cloud,” said Kimble Dong, Gyrfalcon’s CEO. “We believe this system provides great value to the market, and we’re excited about what our teams will accomplish together. The synergy between the two companies will enable the best possible technology for our customers.”