The IoT Podcast

Inside the NXP Smart Home Lab: Edge AI in 2025 - Where Are We, Actually? | Edge of Tomorrow: The Edge AI Debate with NXP's Davis Sawyer & Anthony Huereca

We’ve been talking about smarter devices for years - but what does progress actually look like today?
In this episode of our spin-off series Edge of Tomorrow: The Edge AI Debate, created in collaboration with the  @edgeaifoundation  , Host Tom White heads to NXP Semiconductor's Smart Home Lab to sit down with Davis Sawyer - AI Product Manager and Anthony Huereca - Senior Embedded Systems Engineer.
Together, they explore where Edge AI really stands in 2025 from smaller, more efficient models to the gap between what people want and what’s actually being built.
They dive into the current state of embedded intelligence, real-world applications in the smart home, technical and practical challenges, and what the future might look like, with a focus on what’s actually working today.
Expect thoughts on...
👉 Where smart home tech really stands in 2025
👉 Why “Physical AI” might define the next decade
👉 The reality of running large AI models on embedded devices
👉 The ongoing push for standardisation (and why it’s more complex than it looks)
Chapters...
03:20 Getting to know Davis & Anthony and what NXP is all about
04:50 Where we’re at with smart homes and if they’ve lived up to the hype
07:15 What people really want from AI vs. what we think they want
08:30 Whether AI is actually helping drive real automation
11:11 Finding the balance between the cloud and edge computing
12:30 Are we actually using the tech we’re building — and is it worth it?
15:30 Are we getting on the same page with Edge AI standards?
18:00 Why taking smart risks matters in innovation
18:33 Dreaming big — what we’d love to see in Edge AI
21:30 Everyone has a different take on what a “small model” is
23:00 The rise of AI models being built directly at the edge
24:30 NXP’s perspective on where Edge AI is going
27:40 Quick-fire questions with the guests
33:00 A tour of NXP’s smart home lab and solutions
The episode is live on all major listening platforms now! Listen here: https://linktr.ee/theiotpodcast
What’s your take? Where do you see us heading? Drop your thoughts in the comments after you’ve had a listen.
Connect with our guests... Davis Sawyer - AI Product Marketing Manager: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davis-sawyer/ Anthony Huereca - Senior Embedded Systems Engineer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/huereca/
About Edge of Tomorrow: The Edge AI Debate
Edge of Tomorrow: The Edge AI Debate is a special spin-off series from The IoT Podcast, bringing together some of the brightest minds in Edge AI and beyond for high-stakes discussions on the challenges, opportunities, and trends shaping the future of intelligence at the edge. From the ethics of machine learning to the complexity of standardisation, no topic is off-limits.
Our goal is to give you real conversations — not just forecasts — by bringing together voices from across the field to explore how we can build AI that’s practical, responsible, and future-ready.

Closing the Gap: Closing the Gap: How to Get Edge AI To Users Faster | Edge of Tomorrow: The Edge AI Debate with Rajesh Subramaniam (embedUR Systems) & Reza Kazerounian (Alif Semiconductor)

Edge AI is evolving fast - but how do we accelerate the path from development to deployment, and get real products into users’ hands sooner?
Welcome to the Edge of Tomorrow - The Edge AI Debate, our brand new spin off series on The IoT Podcast in collaboration with the ‪ @edgeaifoundation  bringing together the leading minds in Edge AI for debates and discussions on the biggest challenges, opportunities, and emerging trends shaping the future of Edge AI.
In this episode, host Pete Bernard (CEO, EDGE AI FOUNDATION) sits down with Rajesh Subramaniam (Founder & CEO at EmbedUR Systems) and Reza Kazerounian (Founder & President at Alif Semiconductor) to tackle one of the most pressing questions in the space:How do we accelerate getting Edge AI products to users - and close the gap between innovation and deployment?
From chip design to software pipelines, product cycles to killer apps, this episode dives deep into the real-world friction between building cutting-edge Edge AI and actually commercialising it.
Expect thoughts on...
👉 Why Edge AI products are stuck in the lab while the tech races ahead
👉 What’s driving the growing gap between hardware, software, and market timelines
👉 The tension between standardisation and innovation - and who should compromise
👉 Whether the ecosystem is ready to scale or still too fragmented
👉 What tools, platforms, and killer apps are needed to ship at speed
Chapters...
02:10 Introductions
04:30 Why the AI hardware-software cycle is totally broken
06:40 The explosion of use cases - and the challenge of keeping up
09:10 Rajesh’s “Netflix moment” - when hardware is ready, but the app isn’t
12:00 What it takes to ship a real Edge AI product (beyond just the chip)
15:30 Model Nova, Fusion Studio, and simplifying deployment
17:45 Why standardisation might be the only way forward
20:10 Innovation vs. compatibility: can we have both?
24:00 How fragmentation is killing speed - and what to do about it
27:20 Disruptive architectures vs. proven platforms
31:00 The future of Edge AI tooling and ecosystems
35:10 Final thoughts: how do we actually close the gap?
🎧 The episode is now live on all major podcast platforms.Listen here: https://linktr.ee/theiotpodcast
What’s your take - are we close to bridging the Edge AI-user gap, or just getting started? Let us know in the comments!
Connect with our guests… Reza Kazerounian (Founder & President at Alif Semiconductor) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/reza-kazerounian/
Find out more about Alif Semiconductor - https://alifsemi.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20681515581&gbraid=0AAAAAoY4w6vEfdbpyanaxs5O2n0oYS0LV&gclid=CjwKCAjw3_PCBhA2EiwAkH_j4vzdvAIW5JR2lgq9FGf2qqZc1TBtrnpVXxRLURxp2XvO3uZlUz7x9hoCzhoQAvD_BwE
Rajesh Subramaniam (Founder & CEO at EmbedUR Systems) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajesh-c-subramaniam/
Find out more about embedUR Systems - https://www.embedur.ai/
About the Edge of Tomorrow: The Edge AI Debate
Edge of Tomorrow: The Edge AI Debate is our special spin-off series bringing together some of the brightest minds in Edge AI and beyond for high-stake discussions and debates over hot-button issues, opportunities, and topics of the moment in and around Edge AI. From the ethics of machine learning to the security risks lurking at the edge, no question is off-limits.
Our goal is to bring together diverse voices—technologists, ethicists and innovators—to share their perspectives, explore new ideas, and discuss what’s at stake. By fostering honest, in-depth conversations, Edge of Tomorrow aims to give listeners the insights they need to better understand this transformative field.
This series isn’t just about exploring what’s next for Edge AI—it’s about discussing how we get there responsibly. By bringing together thought leaders from across the field, we aim to dig into the challenges and opportunities of Edge AI, sparking ideas that lead to meaningful change.

Programmable Mobile: The Connectivity Shift No One Can Ignore with Stacuity's Tim Dowling & John Freeman

What does it take to rebuild the way mobile connectivity works for IoT? And why are operators, MVNOs, and enterprises starting to rethink how much visibility and control they should have over their networks?
In this episode of The IoT Podcast, host Tom White sits down with Tim Dowling Co-Founder & COO and John Freeman - CEO at Stacuity, a company developing a fully programmable mobile core designed to give connectivity providers real-time control, flexibility, and global reach.
They dig into the shift toward more programmable networks, what real-time visibility actually enables, and why permanent roaming rules, data sovereignty and regional regulations are forcing a rethink of global IoT strategies.
The discussion focuses on how these changes show up in real deployments: faster troubleshooting, tighter security, smarter automation, and more flexibility for MVNOs and enterprises building connected products.
If you work with IoT devices, manage connectivity, or just want a clearer view of where the industry is heading, this episode is your inside scoop!
Chapters...
00:00 Introductions
02:44 What’s Changing in Mobile Connectivity Today
08:23 Why IT and Telecom Are Rapidly Converging
11:02 A Practical Explanation of “Programmable Mobile”
15:12 Data Sovereignty, Local Breakout & Performance
20:01 Who Benefits from Becoming an MVNO
24:48 Managing Connectivity Across Multiple Regions
27:29 What Full Network Control Enables
32:06 Common Operator & Enterprise Pain Points
41:22 Collaboration, Competition & Market Dynamics
48:30 How Real-Time Connectivity Unlocks New Use Cases
56:43 Career Lessons from Tim & John
59:35 Where to Learn More
The episode is Live on all major listening platforms now: https://linktr.ee/theiotpodcast
Connect with our guests
Tim Dowling: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timdowling100/
John Freeman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/freemanj/ 
 
Find out more about Stacuity: https://stacuity.com/?utm_term=stacuity&utm_campaign=&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=2497416715&hsa_cam=22351269244&hsa_grp=175269389166&hsa_ad=762379803079&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-2281329050636&hsa_kw=stacuity&hsa_mt=p&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22351269244&gbraid=0AAAAAoKxsrV-OS0oKWO2JFcBguckGZ_sI&gclid=Cj0KCQiA_8TJBhDNARIsAPX5qxQHLGRUlDnDiC55YaFwyDBmmDarA3k16SX3Y9GJRt5xKPvZ0odq6LgaAhFXEALw_wcB
About Stacuity
Stacuity is a next-generation mobile connectivity platform empowering operators, MVNOs and enterprises with real-time control, flexible routing, and global-scale IoT connectivity. By combining a cloud-style, API-first core with distributed edge data breakouts, Stacuity enables programmable mobile networks that support data sovereignty, low-latency performance, and dynamic automation.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE IOT PODCAST ON YOUR FAVOURITE LISTENING PLATFORM: https://linktr.ee/theiotpodcast
Sign Up for exclusive email updates: https://theiotpodcast.com/get-exclusive-access/
Contact us to become a guest/partner: https://theiotpodcast.com/contact/
Connect with host Tom White:   / tom5values
 

Where Will the Next Billion-Dollar Ideas Come From in the AI Era? | Yasser Alsaied | The IoT Podcast

What does it really take to build the next billion-dollar idea?
And why do some innovative ideas scale fast… while others quietly disappear?
In this episode of The IoT Podcast, host Tom White sits down in Dubai with one of the show’s most popular previous guests - and one of the world’s leading voices in IoT - Yasser Alsaied, President at Facilis and former VP of IoT at AWS, for an open, in-person conversation about what really drives innovation today.
They look back at predictions Yasser made in his 2023 episode and where we are now. They explore why ideas don’t win on vision alone, why startups often build the most meaningful breakthroughs and why many founders are now choosing belief over quick exits.
They also talk about the pace of change across the MENA region, what moving fast really demands from leadership teams, and why having the right people matters more than having the biggest budget.
From AI and edge to industrial systems and robotics, this episode is about what it really takes to turn an idea into something that lasts.
Chapters…
00:00 Introductions
02:48 Looking Back: Which Predictions Came True
08:05 Why AI Is Useless Without Real Data
14:30 Why Startups Move Faster Than Big Companies
20:45 When Innovation Dies After Acquisition
27:40 Robotics, Edge, and Real-World Impact
36:22 Why Tech Is Moving So Fast in the MENA Region
55:56 Speed, Execution, and Knowing When to Move
1:01:35 What It Really Takes to Build the Next Billion-Dollar Idea
The episode is live on all major listening platforms now: https://linktr.ee/theiotpodcast
Connect with our guestYasser Alsaied: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasseralsaied/
SUBSCRIBE TO THE IOT PODCAST ON YOUR FAVOURITE LISTENING PLATFORM: https://linktr.ee/theiotpodcast
Sign up for exclusive email updates: https://theiotpodcast.com/get-exclusive-access/
Contact us to become a guest/partner: https://theiotpodcast.com/contact/
Connect with host Tom White: / tom5values
This episode is released alongside the announcement of Yasser’s strategic partnership with 5V Tech. Find out more: https://www.weare5vtech.com/welcoming-global-iot-leader-yasser-alsaied- 

Tooling, Frameworks & the Future of Edge AI | Edge of Tomorrow - The Edge AI Debate

Edge AI is evolving quickly - what’s changing in the tooling and frameworks that support it? And where do the biggest opportunities for improvement lie?
In this episode of Edge of Tomorrow – The Edge AI Debate, host Pete Bernard (CEO, EDGE AI FOUNDATION) is joined by Elia Schoenberger (Product Marketing, AI Division at Civa) and Nathan Francis (Business Development at AIZip) for an in-depth discussion on the role of tooling and frameworks in shaping the future of Edge AI.
While much of the attention in AI is placed on models and hardware, this conversation focuses on the layers in between — compilers, SDKs, deployment pipelines, and frameworks — and how they influence speed, scalability, and collaboration across the ecosystem.
The discussion explores how hardware constraints, model design, and tooling choices intersect, whether the industry is moving toward standardisation or continuing to prioritise innovation, and what practical steps could help simplify Edge AI development without slowing progress.
This episode offers a look at how the Edge AI stack is evolving - and what it will take to support broader, more efficient deployment in the years ahead.
Chapters…
00:00 Introductions
01:40 Why tooling and frameworks matter in Edge AI
03:25 Hardware constraints, models, and deployment realities
05:23 Fragmentation vs fit-for-purpose tooling
07:59 Power, performance, and memory trade-offs
09:18 Where Edge AI sits on the maturity curve
11:32 Standardisation, innovation, and ecosystem balance
13:32 Compilers, MLIR, and unifying the toolchain
16:02 Deployment challenges and quantisation complexity
25:17 Generative models arriving at the edge
31:36 Local-first intelligence and when the cloud still matters
32:52 What would help accelerate Edge AI development
36:13 Final reflections and closing thoughts
The episode is live on all major listening platforms now: https://linktr.ee/theiotpodcast
Connect with our guests…
Elia Schoenberger (CIVA,Inc): https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliashenberger/
Nathan Francis (AIZip): https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanfrancis99/
About Edge of Tomorrow – The Edge AI Debate Edge of Tomorrow is our debate-led spin-off series bringing together leaders from across the Edge AI ecosystem to explore the technical, commercial, and strategic decisions shaping how intelligence moves closer to the real world.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE IOT PODCAST ON YOUR FAVOURITE LISTENING PLATFORM: https://linktr.ee/theiotpodcast Sign up for exclusive email updates: https://theiotpodcast.com/get-exclusive-access/ Contact us to become a guest or partner: https://theiotpodcast.com/contact/

Can We Trust Edge AI? | Edge of Tomorrow: The Edge AI Debate with Ros Cammarota & Aydin Aysu

What does “trust” really mean when AI lives at the edge?
Welcome to Edge of Tomorrow – The Edge AI Debate, our spin-off series from The IoT Podcast, created in collaboration with the  @edgeaifoundation  This series brings together leading voices from across the Edge AI ecosystem to debate the toughest questions shaping its future.
In this episode, host Pete Bernard (CEO, EDGE AI FOUNDATION) is joined by Rosario Cammarota (Chief Scientist, Intel Privacy Lab) and Aydin Aysu (Founder, MithrilAI) to tackle:
Can you trust Edge AI - and if so, where does that trust really come from?
As intelligence becomes distributed across edge devices, the traditional assumptions around privacy, security, and ownership start to break down.
This conversation digs into how trust changes when AI runs locally, whether hardware can (or should) be trusted, and what it means for users, builders, and regulators alike.
From cryptographic techniques like homomorphic encryption to real-world deployment scenarios, the debate explores what it actually takes to build Edge AI systems that are not only powerful, but trustworthy.
Chapters…
00:00 Introductions & debate setup
02:30 What does “trust” mean when AI lives at the edge?
07:10 Edge vs. cloud: control, risk, and responsibility
11:40 Can we secure Edge AI without trusting hardware?
17:20 The role of homomorphic encryption
22:30 Data ownership, governance, and user sovereignty
28:40 Real-world Edge AI deployments and security trade offs
34:10 Final reflections: rebuilding trust in the Edge AI stack 
The episode is live now on all major podcast platformsListen here: https://linktr.ee/theiotpodcast
What’s your take? Join the debate in the comments.
Connect with our guests…
Rosario Cammarota – Chief Scientist, Intel Privacy Lab: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ro-cammarota-a226b817/
Aydin Aysu – Founder, MithrilAI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aydinaysu/
Moderator: Pete Bernard – CEO, EDGE AI FOUNDATION: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernardpete/
About Edge of Tomorrow – The Edge AI Debate Edge of Tomorrow is our dedicated debate series bringing together technologists, researchers, and industry leaders to tackle the most pressing and controversial questions in Edge AI.