Model Compression Techniques for Seamless Cloud-to-Edge AI Development

model compression, cloud-to-edge AI, quantization, pruning, knowledge distillation, low-rank factorization, edge computing, AI deployment

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Vol. 11 No. 06 (2023)
Engineering and Computer Science
June 30, 2023

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As we see artificial intelligence (AI) technology becoming more prevalent in both cloud and edge environments, deploying large AI models comes with some unique challenges, especially when it comes to devices that may not have a lot of resources. One important solution to these challenges is model compression, which helps make these large models smaller and easier to run without sacrificing too much performance. In this paper, we take a closer look at some of the latest methods for compressing models, such as quantization (which reduces the number of bits needed to represent numbers), pruning (which involves removing unnecessary parts of the model), knowledge distillation (where a smaller model learns from a larger one), and low-rank factorization (which simplifies model structures). We also examine how effective these techniques are in tackling issues like variability in device capabilities, ensuring data privacy, and making models adaptable in different cloud-to-edge scenarios. Moreover, we discuss how to effectively integrate these compressed models into dynamic and distributed environments, particularly in exciting real-world applications like the Internet of Things (IoT), self-driving cars, and smart city technologies. Finally, we wrap up with some thoughts on emerging trends and the ethical considerations that come with using compressed AI models in decentralized systems.