Each successive generation of Raspberry Pi has brought something new to the table. The latest release, the Raspberry Pi 4, is no exception, upgrading the low-cost single-board computer to include true gigabit Ethernet connectivity, a high-performance 64-bit central processor, more powerful graphics processor, and up to 4GB of RAM. It's a low-cost way to play with RISC-V and Kendryte's KPU, but more expensive than an Arduino for microcontroller use and too limited for general-purpose AI work. Even with these impressive-for-the-price specifications, though, there's something the Raspberry Pi can't easily do unaided: deep learning and other artificial intelligence workloads. With an explosion of interest in AI-at-the-edge, though, there's a market for Raspberry Pi add-ons which offer to fill in the gap - and the Grove AI HAT is just such a device, billed by creator Seeed Studio as ideal for AI projects in fields from hobbyist robotics to the medical industry.

CEO Marc Benioff has made no secret of the fact that Salesforce.com's (NYSE:CRM) future will include comprehensive artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to enhance the customer experience. Benioff's commitment to AI isn't new: He and Salesforce.com president Keith Block have been raving about its analytics cloud for nearly a year now. Deep learning, or AI, is a natural fit for Saleforce.com Salesforce.com fans may recall last summer when Benioff shared the news that its new analytics cloud was the fastest-growing product introduction ever. Benioff's conference calls are known for his over the top "rah-rah" feel, but when it comes to deep learning, Salesforce.com is doing a lot more than shouting from the rooftops.