Knowledge Jan 09, 2026 Trend Report: Accelerating AI Technology with Edge-AI, Idein

The evolution of IoT and AI is accelerating the movement to collect and analyze data from the field in real time, leading to operational efficiency and new value creation. However, traditional methods of sending and processing vast amounts of video and sensor data to the cloud have faced challenges in terms of communication costs, security, and real-time performance. Idein is a startup that solves these challenges through its proprietary edge AI platform, Actcast.

Actcast provides a mechanism to perform AI processing on existing edge devices such as cameras and sensors and send only the necessary information to the cloud. This significantly reduces communication volume and costs, while realizing real-time data analysis and privacy protection. It is being adopted in various industries such as retail, food and beverage, manufacturing, infrastructure, and public facilities. For example, use cases that are directly related to solving on-site issues, such as understanding store congestion and customer attributes, factory safety management, and crowd flow analysis in public spaces, are expanding. 

Idein is also actively promoting collaboration with KDDI, and KDDI invested in the company in 2021. By combining KDDI's telecommunications infrastructure and corporate customer base with Idein's edge AI technology, the two companies are accelerating the deployment of services to office buildings, commercial facilities, and local governments. In particular, by linking KDDI's 5G network with Actcast, it is possible to achieve more advanced real-time analysis and large-scale data utilization, contributing to the realization of next-generation smart cities and smart stores.

An example of this is the introduction of AI signage at Lawson stores. By using Idein's Actcast to analyze in-store camera footage with edge AI, it can analyze the age group, gender, and congestion status of customers in real time. Based on this data, we automatically switch the display content of the signage to send out product information and campaigns tailored to the target. This contributes to the efficiency of store operations, the improvement of sales promotion effects, and the optimization of customer experience. It is also highly regarded for its privacy consideration and the ability to use data in a way that does not identify individuals.

Idein is expanding its business both domestically and internationally under the vision of "connecting all sites with data to solve social issues." We will continue to pay attention to the company's trends in order to build a new social infrastructure through the fusion of edge AI and IoT.

Disclaimer:

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.