Deep learning from Ghent makes smart image recognition possible

Ghent-based Robovision offers a software platform for applications that use artificial intelligence. Robovision specializes in image recognition based on deep learning. Co-founder and CEO Jonathan Berte will during the D&E event tell about the impact of AI and deep learning on industry. FHI spoke to him in the run-up to this event.

By: Dimitri Reijerman

The fast-growing Robovision serves multiple market segments within the industry with its AI platform. Berte: “Our company sells a platform for deep learning. With our platform, you can recognize patterns and check quality in different contexts and in different industries. We are mainly active in the manufacturing industry, but also in agriculture/agritech and pick & place applications. We are also active in applications for smart cities, for example for recognizing walking patterns in people and behavioral analysis. We are also working on healthcare under the radar. That is a very nice market, because the impact there is very big.”

Berte describes the benefits of applying AI for companies: “Deep learning can operationalize and virtualize expertise. This means that for quality control aspects, you can compartmentalize certain expertise among operators in a deep learning model. We specialize in image recognition based on image information. This can also be hyperspectral, thermal or 3D, so basically everything that has to do with measuring reality.”

The Robovision CEO explains how his deep learning software works: “AI works primarily as a pattern generation tool. If you have a bunch of examples of things that are well-made or poorly-made, you can transfer that information to a deep learning model without having to write the rules. If you feed this ‘AI quality inspector’ a thousand examples, you get a virtual expert that looks a lot like a real expert, but one that’s available 24/7.”

Applications in agriculture

There is a lot of demand for AI software, including Robovision’s platform, especially in the agricultural sector. Berte explains: “We have the biggest impact in agriculture. From Japan to Brazil, our software runs everywhere within the context of planting crops. AI can indicate how to pick up and plant a plant or tulip bulb.”

But according to Berte, AI can prove its worth in many more industries: “Let's say that AI is a threat or a opportunity can be. If you wait too long as a company, it is a threat, because as soon as a competitor reacts faster to AI, it can quickly disrupt the market. It is an opportunity if you get started with it quickly, because then you can maintain your lead. It is therefore important for organizations and companies in the Benelux to actively think about this.”

Furthermore, Berte says that Robovision’s ambition is to make AI technology as accessible as possible, also for small(er) companies. He explains: “Everything in deep learning is based on the larger frameworks, such as TensorFlow and Torch. We have built on that to democratize AI. Because a small company does not have the resources to set up its own data science department. We provide a ready-made solution that you can use immediately. This makes AI affordable for small companies. I would even say that small companies can get started with AI faster than large, cumbersome companies.”

Enough challenges

Despite the booming market for artificial intelligence, there are still plenty of challenges for Robovision, says Berte: “We have relatively little competition in the platform function. You have few end-to-end platforms. Google and Microsoft do have something, but they are too complicated for small companies to use. Furthermore, you stay up to date by hiring very good people. We are on the campus in Ghent and although we are not a spin-off, we do have that image. To be competitive, you have to make sure that you are the best employer in your region.”

In summary, Berte believes that we should be positive about the progress in our region in the field of AI: “I want to say that we should not only look at the prophets of Silicon Valley, but also at the Benelux. A lot is happening here, but we are not that good at marketing. I want to convey to the D&E visitors that we are also pioneers in AI and that we should not always take the mustard from the water.”

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