October 11, 2024
How Edge AI solves real-world challenges in video meetings
Huddly's Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer, Stein Ove Eriksen, reveals how Edge AI has brought video conferencing to a turning point, tackling the biggest challenges head-on.
By Stein Ove Eriksen, Huddly Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer
AI is one of humanity’s most incredible inventions. Just think about it—when people first discovered they could run an electric current through a lightbulb to light up the darkness, it changed everything. AI is like that, but bigger.
In video meetings, the real innovation comes from Edge AI. This is intelligence built directly into the cameras, optimizing the meeting experience for full engagement and productivity.
But here’s the secret: while Edge AI on a single camera delivers impressive results, the step change happens when it powers a multi-camera system. This combination doesn’t just improve meetings—it transforms them, making them 10 times more dynamic and immersive than anything you’ve experienced before.
The best part? This powerful technology is both practical and affordable, making it accessible for any business to implement across all workspaces. It’s set to change the way we work, connect, and collaborate forever.
What is “Edge AI”?
Edge AI, or "AI on the Edge," means the device handles all the data processing right on the camera, without sending it off to the cloud or an in-room computer. This makes everything faster and more responsive, while also keeping your data more secure since it stays on the device. It's a smarter, more powerful way to deliver meeting experiences.
What’s behind the intelligence? It’s powered by machine learning, specifically Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and object classification. This enables the camera to distinguish between people and objects like tables or laptops, while also understanding where people are, where they’re looking, and who’s speaking.
In short, it turns cameras into intelligent sensors that react to what’s happening in the room. The result? Real-time adjustments, precise framing, and video that naturally follows the conversation.
Challenge 1:
Autonomously adapting to the human experience
Humans are a social and collaborative species. When people come together, they figure things out—and that kind of teamwork is essential for any organization. But in a hybrid world, recreating the energy of in-person interactions can be tricky, especially when technology gets in the way. Nothing disrupts the flow of a meeting quite like having to adjust your behaviour to meet the needs of the technology.
Using the powerful capabilities of Edge AI, our cameras see, understand, and automatically adapt to how you naturally act and communicate. They eliminate distractions, delivering instant framing and shot switching, so you don’t have to lift a finger. The best meeting experience is autonomous—just focus on the conversation, and let the technology do the rest.
""Edge AI transforms our cameras into sensors that see, understand, and automatically adapt to the flow of your meeting.""
Challenge 2:
Enhancing engagement and productivity
Some people think video calls can’t compare to in-person meetings. We disagree. The issue isn’t video—it’s that we’ve settled for an experience that’s barely good enough. If all you see is a static room view, it’s easy to tune out and stop contributing. Real magic happens when people come together, and video should capture that energy. It’s time to dream bigger.
Driven by Edge AI, our cameras do more than just show the meeting—they actively shape it, boosting engagement with real-time framing and editing. And the real step change in experience happens when you add multiple cameras, like with Huddly Crew. Suddenly, it becomes a dynamic, multi-angle experience, harnessing the full power of human collaboration.
Challenge 3:
Scalability and flexibility in meeting environments
Why limit video meetings to a few specialized rooms? Collaboration can happen anywhere—lounge areas, huddle spaces, boardrooms. Your video setup should be flexible enough to work in all of these spaces, without the need for costly redesigns. That way, you’re empowering teamwork wherever it happens naturally.
Edge AI makes it easy to scale your video conferencing. Start with one of our cameras, expand to five—the technology adjusts to your needs without compromising power or performance. And with machine learning that’s trained to deliver experiences that focus on people, not spaces, your teams can collaborate anywhere, regardless of room size, furniture, or layout.
Challenge 4:
Evolving video conferencing technology
As I mentioned, video conferencing is at a turning point, and things are going to move even faster from here. You don’t want to get stuck with tools that will become outdated soon. Plus, if something breaks or becomes obsolete, it shouldn't mean having to rip out and replace everything—that's neither sustainable nor smart business.
With Edge AI, our cameras are built to grow with you. Upgradable software and modular hardware empower your teams to perform at their best while adapting to changing needs over time. Think modular, think flexible, and prepare for the next decade, not just the next year.
""Think modular, think flexible, and prepare for the next decade, not just the next year.""
Making video meetings what they should be
At Huddly, we’re not here for gradual progress—we're here to push the limits of what’s possible. By using Edge AI to solve the challenges of autonomy, engagement, scalability, and evolving technology, we're making video meetings what we've always thought they should be: inclusive, effective, and accessible for all.
But in the end, it's about more than better meetings. Human connection is key to overcoming challenges, and we’re focused on building a more connected world—where collaboration fuels innovation and leads to real, meaningful progress.
