Google brings on-device machine learning to mobile with TensorFlow Lite

The company's dedication to developing AI capable of running algorithms on a mobile device -- without connecting to the cloud -- is laying the groundwork for the artificial intelligence of things (AioT) of the future. As far as consumer products go, Google Assistant, Alexa, and Siri are among the most popular uses of AI in the mainstream. For as little as $30 or $40 a person can get their own interactive artificial intelligence – as long as they also have WiFi and somewhere to plug in a charger. TensorFlow Lite represents the nascent steps on the path toward making AI-powered devices not just accessible, but disposable. Developers now have preview access to TensorFlow Lite for Android or iOS. Instead of providing new functionality for AI applications, it's designed to leverage existing hardware – like the Snapdragon processors inside many smartphones – to run algorithms typically impossible for mobile devices without connecting to the cloud.