Samsung’s new microSD cards could make on-device AI easier

Samsung recently unveiled two new microSD cards, the 256GB SD Express microSD card and the 1TB UHS-1 microSD card. While these cards boast impressive capacities and performance improvements, a key highlight lies in their potential to facilitate the advancement of on-device AI.

How do these cards help on-device AI?

• Increased Storage: The larger capacities offered by these cards provide more space for storing the complex algorithms and data required for on-device AI applications. This can be crucial for running AI models directly on smartphones and other devices without relying on the cloud.
• Faster Data Transfer: The SD Express card's significantly faster read speeds (up to 800MB/s) compared to traditional UHS-1 cards (up to 200MB/s) can improve the processing speed of AI tasks on devices. This allows for faster model loading, real-time analysis, and quicker response times.

What are the benefits of on-device AI?

On-device AI offers several advantages:

• Improved Privacy: Processing data locally on the device can potentially address privacy concerns associated with sending data to the cloud for AI processing.
• Reduced Latency: On-device AI can lead to lower latency, meaning faster response times and a more seamless user experience for AI-powered features on smartphones and other devices.
• Offline Functionality: On-device AI applications can function even without an internet connection, making them more reliable in situations with limited or no connectivity.

Looking Ahead:

While these new microSD cards represent a step forward, other factors will also influence the advancement of on-device AI:

• Development of efficient AI models: Smaller and more efficient AI models optimized for on-device processing are still needed.
• Battery life considerations: Running complex AI tasks on devices can potentially drain battery life faster. Optimizations are required to ensure efficient energy usage.

Overall, Samsung's new microSD cards are a welcome addition, offering increased storage and faster data transfer speeds, both of which can contribute to the advancement of on-device AI.