MathWorks joins EDGE AI group to boost embedded AI

MathWorks has joined the EDGE AI FOUNDATION, linking the MATLAB and Simulink developer with a non-profit group focused on energy-efficient artificial intelligence for edge devices.

MathWorks will work with the foundation's members on embedded AI workflows spanning model training, integration into engineering simulations, and deployment to embedded hardware. The EDGE AI FOUNDATION is a global community focused on edge AI technologies and education.

The announcement comes as engineering teams increase their use of AI in products that operate under tight limits on power, memory, and compute. Many of these systems run outside data centres and rely on microcontrollers, embedded GPUs, or programmable logic. These constraints are driving demand for tools that connect model development with system engineering and verification.

Foundation focus

Formerly known as the tinyML Foundation, the EDGE AI FOUNDATION says it brings together industry, researchers, and practitioners. It points to a network that includes more than 100 Fortune 500 technology companies and a global audience for its online content and training courses.

Pete Bernard, Executive Director of the EDGE AI FOUNDATION, said the partnership supports broader adoption of edge AI.

"MathWorks joining the EDGE AI FOUNDATION strengthens our shared mission to make edge AI more accessible," said Pete Bernard, Executive Director, EDGE AI FOUNDATION. "As a recognised leader in embedded AI for engineered systems, MathWorks brings proven capabilities for AI model integration, system-level simulation, and optimised code generation. These contributions will be invaluable to our community as we work together to accelerate advancements in edge AI."

MathWorks develops MATLAB and Simulink, used for numerical computing, algorithm development, simulation, and model-based design. The tools are widely used in automotive and aerospace, as well as in academic teaching and research.

Workflow details

MathWorks positioned its software as an end-to-end workflow for embedded AI, from building models to testing them in simulations of larger systems and preparing code for deployment on different classes of hardware.

It highlighted system-level simulation as a step before deployment, along with generating code for multiple targets from a single Simulink model, including C/C++, CUDA, and HDL. MathWorks also pointed to model-compression techniques aimed at devices with limited resources.

The software integrates with multiple AI frameworks and formats, including PyTorch, TensorFlow, ONNX, and XGBoost, alongside MATLAB. It also supports verification and validation workflows for safety- and mission-critical systems, as well as low-code applications for users without deep AI expertise.

Industry examples

MathWorks outlined several application areas for embedded AI. In automotive engineering, teams use MATLAB and Simulink to build virtual sensors that estimate variables such as battery state of charge or motor temperature. These models can run on microcontrollers and meet real-time requirements in constrained environments.

In aerospace, teams develop anomaly-detection and predictive-maintenance algorithms that can be deployed on FPGAs, aligning with latency and safety needs in flight-critical systems. In industrial automation, developers use the tools for defect detection in visual inspection and deployment on embedded GPUs for quality-control workloads.

Lucas Garcia, Product Manager, AI, MathWorks, said the membership aligns with the company's direction in AI, machine learning, and edge computing.

"Joining the EDGE AI FOUNDATION is a natural extension of our commitment to empowering engineers and scientists to innovate in AI, machine learning, and edge computing," said Lucas Garcia, Product Manager, AI, MathWorks. "Our workflow enables teams to validate AI models developed in MATLAB and PyTorch through full-system simulation, optimise them for tight compute and memory constraints, and deploy across a wide spectrum of embedded hardware platforms. We look forward to collaborating with the Foundation and its members to advance the deployment of reliable, efficient AI solutions that address real-world challenges."

MathWorks employs more than 6,500 people across 34 offices globally and is headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts. The EDGE AI FOUNDATION said it will continue building community programmes around efficient and scalable edge AI technologies as it expands its supporter base.