Question of the Month: How will AI be deployed in embedded applications in five years’ time?

I am not very well versed in AI so I might not be in the best position to predict its future trends.  Anyway I chose the option that sees most processing occur in the cloud.  This general approach saves manufacturers the cost of manufacturering specialized chips and they can harness the power of connectivity.  Although we take it for granted a mind staggering about of data can be exchanged every second.  Finally I think the opportunity for the AI companies to charge for some these cloud services will be irresistible.

You are correct that large companies are working hard to make cloud services seductively irresistible because it is good for their bottom line. But it is a see-saw battle. As mainframe power became available in a PC, consumers bought PCs instead of mainframe terminals. Then servers were introduced to handle big data, but eventually consumers could afford terrabyte storage devices. Now the cloud is even more seductive, but technology will become affordable that allows individuals to remain independent. This balance between corporate interests and individual interests will become increasingly important as humans become more augmented by technology.

Would you rather have your own computer sifting the Internet for information or have advertisers paying Google nd Microsoft to dictate what you get to see? 

You are correct that large companies are working hard to make cloud services seductively irresistible because it is good for their bottom line. But it is a see-saw battle. As mainframe power became available in a PC, consumers bought PCs instead of mainframe terminals. Then servers were introduced to handle big data, but eventually consumers could afford terrabyte storage devices. Now the cloud is even more seductive, but technology will become affordable that allows individuals to remain independent. This balance between corporate interests and individual interests will become increasingly important as humans become more augmented by technology.

Would you rather have your own computer sifting the Internet for information or have advertisers paying Google nd Microsoft to dictate what you get to see? 

See-saw is a great word for the back and forth rivalry between cloud and  closed system approaches.  Although I was predicting cloud being dominant I prefer a self contained implementation.  Part of this is because like you I don't like the intrusions of private companies using the data for targeted advertising but I'm also unimpressed by how useless my Google Home assistant becomes  once its internet connection is lost.  Its total reliance on outside data and algorithms to operate has inspired me to coin the term Artifical Artificial Intelligence.  The self contained implementations are much more interesting to me.  The way you 'taught' your HuskyLens to recognize different types of bugs is a recent example of this.

Personally, I refuse to fully trust 'cloud' until homomorphic encryption becomes widely available and deployed.