Knowledge Jan 09, 2026 Trend Report: AI with Anonymity? Deeping Source is Making It Happen.

The evolution of AI-driven image recognition technology is bringing new value to various aspects of society. However, the use of surveillance camera footage has been accompanied by privacy protection issues, and sufficient utilization has not progressed. Deeping Source is a startup that develops both the use of video data and privacy protection based on its unique "anonymized AI camera" technology.

The company's "Deeping Source Anonymous Camera" is characterized by its ability to anonymize camera footage in real time and utilize data in a way that cannot identify individuals. Since the anonymization process is completed on edge devices and personal information can be protected before transmission to the cloud, it is being introduced in a wide range of sites such as offices, commercial facilities, factories, and public spaces. This enables a variety of applications, such as security enhancement, operational efficiency, and marketing analysis.

In addition, they have developed solutions that are directly related to solving on-site issues, such as AI-based analysis of people and their movement, visualization of congestion levels, and attribute estimation. Proof-of-Concepts and implementation cases are also expanding, such as access control in office buildings, customer behavior analysis in commercial facilities, and safety management in factories.

Of particular note is the Proof-of-Concept at Lawson stores. Deeping Source's anonymized AI camera is used to visualize congestion and customer flow while protecting the privacy of customers. This contributes to the efficiency of store operations and service improvement. As a model case for privacy-conscious data utilization, it is expected to widen its presence in the retail industry in the future.

In June 2025, KDDI announced an additional investment in Deeping Source. By combining KDDI's telecommunications infrastructure and corporate customer base with Deeping Source's anonymized AI technology, KDDI and Deeping Source are accelerating the adoption in office buildings, commercial facilities, and local governments. The two companies are strengthening their collaboration with the aim of implementing next-generation video utilization services in the society that are privacy-conscious.

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The opinions expressed in this newsletter are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of KDDI America, Inc or any other companies or organizations.

KDDI America, Inc.

 KDDI America is the US subsidiary of KDDI Corporation, a Fortune Global 500 company and is growing communications carrier with a proven track record in Japan and a longstanding reputation for quality and reliability. KDDI America provides a wide range of High Quality Services such as Communications, Data Centers and Solution Services throughout the world.