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Krishna Sridhar

As AI moves beyond the cloud, on-device inference is rapidly expanding to smartphones, IoT devices, robots, AR/VR headsets, and more. Billions of mobile and other edge devices are ready to run optimized AI models.

This course equips you with key skills to deploy AI on device:

1. Explore how deploying models on device reduces latency, enhances efficiency, and preserves privacy.

2. Go through key concepts of on-device deployment such as neural network graph capture, on-device compilation, and hardware acceleration.

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As AI moves beyond the cloud, on-device inference is rapidly expanding to smartphones, IoT devices, robots, AR/VR headsets, and more. Billions of mobile and other edge devices are ready to run optimized AI models.

This course equips you with key skills to deploy AI on device:

1. Explore how deploying models on device reduces latency, enhances efficiency, and preserves privacy.

2. Go through key concepts of on-device deployment such as neural network graph capture, on-device compilation, and hardware acceleration.

3. Convert pretrained models from PyTorch and TensorFlow for on-device compatibility.

4. Deploy a real-time image segmentation model on device with just a few lines of code.

5. Test your model performance and validate numerical accuracy when deploying to on-device environments

6. Quantize and make your model up to 4x faster and 4x smaller for higher on-device performance.

7. See a demonstration of the steps for integrating the model into a functioning Android app.

Learn from Krishna Sridhar, Senior Director of Engineering at Qualcomm, who has played a pivotal role in deploying over 1,000 models on devices and, with his team, has created the infrastructure used by over 100,000 applications.

By learning these techniques, you’ll be positioned to develop and deploy AI to billions of devices and optimize your complex models to run efficiently on the edge.

Enroll now

What's inside

Syllabus

Traffic lights

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what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Geared toward equipping learners with essential techniques to deploy machine learning models on devices
Taught by Krishna Sridhar, a recognized expert in on-device AI deployment with substantial experience in the field
Provides hands-on labs to reinforce learning and practical application of concepts
Aims to support learners in developing and deploying AI models efficiently on billions of devices
Covers key concepts in on-device AI deployment, including neural network graph capture and hardware acceleration
Suitable for learners interested in developing and deploying AI models specifically on devices

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Reviews summary

Practical introduction to on-device ai deployment

According to learners, this course offers a largely positive and practical introduction to on-device AI. Students commend the clear explanations by instructor Krishna Sridhar, whose industry experience at Qualcomm shines through, providing invaluable perspectives. The course is praised for its hands-on labs, especially the real-time image segmentation deployment and the crucial section on model optimization through quantization. Many found the content on PyTorch and TensorFlow model conversion and hardware acceleration highly beneficial. While it provides a solid foundation for deploying AI on edge devices, some reviewers noted that the Android app integration was more of a demo, and certain advanced topics could use more in-depth coverage for those seeking beyond an introduction. Overall, it's considered a must-take for professionals entering mobile or edge AI.
Explains fundamental concepts and benefits of on-device AI clearly.
"The content on PyTorch/TensorFlow model conversion and deployment was very helpful."
"The explanations of hardware acceleration and the benefits of edge deployment were clear."
"The benefits of edge deployment (latency, privacy) were well articulated."
Covers critical techniques like quantization for performance and size.
"The section on quantization was extremely valuable, showing how to optimize models for real-world deployment."
"I found the practical approach to model optimization (quantization) incredibly useful."
"The coverage of quantization and efficiency was crucial."
"I learned how to make my model up to 4x faster and 4x smaller for higher on-device performance."
Emphasizes hands-on model deployment and real-world application.
"I particularly appreciated the hands-on labs and the practical demonstration of integrating a model into an Android app."
"As a software engineer, I found the practical approach to model optimization and deployment incredibly useful."
"The segment on deploying a real-time image segmentation model was fantastic and very hands-on."
"It’s rare to find a course that bridges the gap between theory and actual deployment so effectively."
Benefits from the instructor's deep industry experience and clear explanations.
"The instructor, Krishna Sridhar, explains complex concepts with incredible clarity."
"The instructor's industry experience shines through."
"The instructor's expertise is evident. It demystified a lot of the complexities of deploying AI at the edge."
"The instructor's background from Qualcomm provided invaluable perspectives."
The Android integration is a demonstration, not an interactive lab.
"My only minor critique is that some parts felt a bit rushed, especially the Android integration which was more of a demo than a deep dive."
"The Android app demo was interesting but not interactive."
Provides a solid introduction but may lack depth for advanced learners.
"I came into this course with some prior AI knowledge, hoping for a deep dive into optimization... felt more like an 'introduction'."
"Good for a high-level understanding, but not enough for immediate practical application without further study."
"While it touched on quantization, it didn't go as deep as I wanted."
"This course might be a bit basic for intermediate users seeking advanced techniques."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Introduction to On-Device AI with these activities:
Review TensorFlow Library
Go through TensorFlow's documentation to refresh your understanding of the library, enabling you to effectively convert models.
Browse courses on Deep Learning
Show steps
  • Visit TensorFlow website and review their documentation
  • Practice writing TensorFlow code
Connect with On-Device AI Deployment Experts
Guidance from experienced professionals can accelerate your learning and provide valuable insights into the field of on-device AI deployment.
Show steps
  • Identify potential mentors who have expertise in on-device AI deployment
  • Reach out to these individuals and express your interest in mentorship
Practice Neural Network Graph Capture Techniques
Getting your hands dirty with these techniques will make you well-prepared for the core concepts of this course on on-device AI deployment.
Show steps
  • Read course materials about Neural Network Graph Capture
  • Implement a Neural Network Graph Capture function
  • Solve coding problems that require Neural Network Graph Capture
Ten other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all 13 activities
Review models before course
Review key machine learning theory and concepts (i.e. model training, validation, evaluation) before the start of the course.
Browse courses on Machine Learning
Show steps
  • Review key theoretical concepts: Model Training
  • Review key theoretical concepts: Model Validation
  • Review key theoretical concepts: Model Evaluation
Practice Neural Network Optimization
Refresh your skills in neural network optimization to prepare for this course's focus on optimizing AI models for on-device deployment.
Show steps
  • Review your notes and assignments from previous machine learning or neural network optimization courses.
  • Follow tutorials on neural network optimization techniques.
  • Implement neural network optimization algorithms in a programming language of your choice.
Python C++ coding practice
Complete practice problems using Python and C++ to strengthen coding skills necessary for deploying models on device.
Browse courses on Python
Show steps
  • Identify online coding practice problems
  • Attempt to solve coding problems
  • Review solutions and identify areas for improvement
Follow a Tutorial on Model Performance Testing and Validation
Understanding how to test and validate models will increase your confidence while deploying AI on-device.
Show steps
  • Identify a guided tutorial that covers testing and validating models for on-device environments
  • Follow the tutorial and complete all exercises
  • Apply the techniques you learned to your own project
Explore On-Device AI Tutorials
Supplement your learning by exploring tutorials and resources on on-device AI to gain a deeper understanding of the concepts and techniques covered in this course.
Show steps
  • Search for tutorials on topics such as on-device model deployment, optimization, and hardware acceleration.
  • Follow tutorials that align with your interests and skill level.
  • Experiment with the code and examples provided in the tutorials.
On-device inference with MobileNet
Practice implementing on-device inference with MobileNet through online tutorials.
Browse courses on AI
Show steps
  • Identify tutorial on on-device inference with MobileNet
  • Follow the steps outlined in the tutorial
  • Test and evaluate the accuracy of your implementation
AI Model Deployment in Android
Build an Android application that integrates an AI model for image recognition, putting your theoretical knowledge into practice.
Browse courses on Android Development
Show steps
  • Plan and design the Android application
  • Develop the Android application
  • Integrate the AI model into the application
  • Test and evaluate the application
Deploy a Real-Time Object Detection Model on a Smartphone
Hands-on experience is one of the best ways to solidify the concepts learned in this course on on-device AI deployment.
Show steps
  • Gather the necessary hardware and software
  • Follow the course materials to deploy a real-time object detection model
  • Test and evaluate the deployed model
Technical Blog on Model Quantization
Write a blog post explaining the process and effectiveness of quantizing models, to reinforce knowledge and showcase understanding.
Browse courses on Software Development
Show steps
  • Research model quantization
  • Write a technical blog describing your findings
  • Publish your blog and share it with others
Attend a Workshop on Quantization for On-Device AI Deployment
Workshops offer an immersive learning experience that can greatly enhance your understanding of on-device AI deployment.
Show steps
  • Identify and register for a workshop on quantization for on-device AI deployment
  • Attend the workshop and participate actively
  • Apply the knowledge gained from the workshop to your own projects

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to On-Device AI will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We've selected 50 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Introduction to On-Device AI.
Serves as the definitive modern hands-on standard for machine learning, guiding practitioners through concrete scikit-learn workflows before deeply exploring TensorFlow 2 and Keras architectures.
An excellent choice for all levels of Android Developers. covers a wide range of topics, from the basics of Android development to advanced concepts like threading and networking. The Big Nerd Ranch Guide is also known for its clear and concise explanations. Highly recommended.
Walks developers through realistic deep learning challenges using TensorFlow 2, emphasizing clean Keras syntax, custom model subclassing, data loading pipelines, and deployment-ready training loops.
This handbook presents advanced methods and state-of-the-art research in medical image computing and computer-assisted intervention, including significant content on medical image segmentation. It is written by leading authorities and provides a comprehensive reference for researchers and practitioners.
Covers the mechanics of deploying production pipelines with TensorFlow Extended (TFX), focusing on artifact lineage, data validation at scale, model analysis, and resilient orchestrations.
Presents an overview of advanced segmentation algorithms and their applications specifically in biomedical imaging. It covers the unique challenges and approaches in this domain. It valuable resource for those interested in the medical applications of image segmentation.
An updated edition of the popular 'Deep Learning with PyTorch', this book includes new content on transformers and generative AI models, reflecting contemporary advancements in the field. It builds upon the foundational knowledge of the first edition, making it valuable for those seeking to stay current with PyTorch and deep learning.
Focuses specifically on applying deep learning techniques to computer vision tasks, including image segmentation. It valuable resource for understanding contemporary approaches in the field, particularly those utilizing convolutional neural networks. It includes hands-on coding examples, making it practical for those looking to implement modern segmentation methods.
Bridges neural model experimentation and production delivery, demonstrating how to containerize TensorFlow pipelines, maintain automated model registries, and monitor data drift in live cloud deployments.
Focuses on recognition, segmentation, and parsing of medical images using machine learning techniques. It provides insights into applying advanced approaches to medical image analysis challenges. It valuable resource for researchers and practitioners working on medical image segmentation.
An ideal choice for beginners who want to start learning Android development. uses a unique and engaging approach to teach the fundamentals of Android programming, with plenty of examples and illustrations. If you are new to Android development this great place to start.
Provides a comprehensive overview of parallel processing for scientific computing, including coverage of hardware acceleration. It covers both the theoretical foundations of parallel processing and practical aspects of implementing parallel applications.
Investigates deep neural text architectures in TensorFlow, detailing embedding representations, recurrent layers, attention modules, and token classification for modern language tasks.
Takes a top-down approach, focusing on practical applications of deep learning using the fastai library, which is built on PyTorch. It quickly gets readers building models for computer vision, natural language processing, and tabular data, while also covering underlying concepts. It's highly recommended for those who want to get hands-on with PyTorch quickly and see it applied to real-world problems.
Serves as a comprehensive guide to quantization methods, from classical mechanics to quantum field theory, written by the renowned physicist André Messiah.
Tackles end-to-end serving bottlenecks for enterprise deep learning systems, offering rigorous recipes for hardware acceleration, tensor distributed execution, and real-time model inference.
Provides a comprehensive and rigorous treatment of computer vision topics, including a thorough discussion of image segmentation. It delves into both the theoretical concepts and practical implementations. It is often used as a textbook for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses, making it a valuable resource for deepening one's understanding of the subject.
This comprehensive book provides a solid theoretical and practical introduction to deep learning, with implementations in multiple frameworks, including PyTorch. It covers a wide range of topics from the basics to more advanced concepts and is suitable for those who want a deep understanding of the underlying principles of deep learning alongside practical PyTorch code.
Explores high-performance neural vector processing and token chunking strategies, bridging deep embedding generation in TensorFlow with modern retrieval-augmented pipelines.
Demonstrates practical visual recognition techniques, guiding readers through convolutional networks, transfer learning, object detection, and image segmentation with practical Keras code.
Unpacks advanced generative models and reinforcement learning techniques, detailing variational autoencoders, generative adversarial networks, and energy-based models with clean TensorFlow 2 implementations.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of computer architecture, including coverage of hardware acceleration. It covers both the theoretical foundations of computer architecture and practical aspects of designing and implementing computer systems.
Delves into more advanced PyTorch techniques for building and deploying complex deep learning models, including CNNs, RNNs, transformers, and generative models. It covers topics like optimizing training with multiple GPUs and deploying models to production, making it suitable for those looking to deepen their understanding and apply PyTorch in a professional setting.
Foundational text in digital image processing, covering a wide range of topics including image segmentation. It provides essential background knowledge and classical techniques that are crucial for understanding more advanced segmentation methods. It is widely used as a textbook in academic institutions. While not solely focused on segmentation, its comprehensive coverage makes it a valuable reference tool.
Provides a comprehensive overview of computer systems, including coverage of hardware acceleration. It covers both the theoretical foundations of computer systems and practical aspects of designing and implementing computer systems.
A practical guide that focuses on the essential aspects of Android Studio development. is up-to-date with the latest version of Android Studio and Android, and it covers all the key topics, from setting up your development environment to building and deploying your apps. It is considered very relevant for intermediate to advanced developers who want to improve their Android Studio skills.
A guide to advanced Android development that covers a wide range of topics, from the basics of advanced Android to advanced topics like performance optimization and security. great choice for experienced Android developers who want to learn more about advanced Android development.
Delves into the mathematical foundations of image processing and analysis, including advanced segmentation techniques based on variational methods and PDEs. It is suitable for those seeking a deeper theoretical understanding of segmentation algorithms. It is more valuable as additional reading for graduate students and researchers.
Similar to the NLP book, this resource provides practical recipes and solutions for computer vision problems using PyTorch. It covers tasks like image classification, object detection, and segmentation with clear code examples. It's a go-to guide for anyone applying PyTorch to computer vision.
Details on-device model optimization and inference, showing how to quantize weights and run lightweight TensorFlow Lite models inside cross-platform mobile environments.
Presents an engineering approach to computer vision and image analysis, with chapters dedicated to image segmentation. It covers various techniques and provides examples. It is suitable for academic use and self-study, offering a balanced view of theory and practical application.
Introduces machine learning from a programmer-first mindset, showing how to train vision and sequence models in TensorFlow without demanding prior advanced mathematical background.
Explains core computational graphs, automatic differentiation, and distributed tensor processing, laying down solid mechanical intuitions for low-level numerical computation.
Focuses on building generative AI applications using Python and PyTorch. It covers modern topics like LLMs, Transformers, GANs, and diffusion models with hands-on projects. It's highly relevant for those interested in the latest advancements in generative AI and their implementation in PyTorch.
Covers a broad range of computer vision topics, including image formation, feature extraction, and segmentation. It balances theory and practical applications. It can be a useful resource for gaining a solid understanding of the principles behind image segmentation within the broader context of computer vision.
Focuses on the mathematical foundations of computer vision, including probabilistic and graphical models relevant to segmentation. It provides a solid theoretical understanding of the techniques. It classic reference text suitable for advanced students and researchers.
Specifically written for beginners, this book introduces the fundamentals of PyTorch step-by-step. It covers essential concepts like autograd, model classes, and data handling. This is an excellent resource for those with no prior experience in PyTorch or deep learning, providing a gentle introduction with practical code examples.
The second edition of 'Generative Deep Learning' includes updates on the latest generative AI models and techniques. While it uses TensorFlow and Keras for some examples, the concepts are directly applicable to PyTorch, and the book provides a strong theoretical and practical foundation in this rapidly evolving area.
Highlights fundamental machine learning algorithms implemented via tensor operations, contrasting traditional regression techniques with modern deep neural architectures.
A collection of recipes for Android development that covers a wide range of topics, from the basics of Android to advanced topics like performance optimization and security. great choice for experienced Android developers who want to learn more about Android development.
Connects microcontrollers and ultra-low-power embedded systems with machine learning, showing how to execute pruned TensorFlow Lite models on edge devices consuming mere milliwatts.
Offers a practical, hands-on introduction to computer vision using the OpenCV library and Python. It covers various image processing tasks, including some fundamental segmentation techniques. It is particularly useful for beginners who want to implement basic segmentation algorithms and gain practical experience.
Centralizes feature extraction and image processing techniques relevant to computer vision, including aspects that are foundational to segmentation. It provides a comprehensive summary of methods used in computer vision applications. It useful resource for understanding the steps preceding or complementing image segmentation.
Explores the field of reinforcement learning and its implementation using PyTorch. It covers various RL algorithms and provides practical examples, making it suitable for those interested in this advanced application area of deep learning with PyTorch.
Furnishes compact architectural recipes and debugging patterns, helping engineers quickly troubleshoot gradient vanishing, tensor shape mismatches, and hyperparameter tuning.
Focuses on applying deep learning techniques using PyTorch to solve various problems. It provides practical examples and guidance on building and training models for different applications, making it a useful resource for those looking to gain hands-on experience with PyTorch.
Provides an accessible starting point for mastering basic tensor operations and building introductory models, well suited for newcomers to modern computational learning.

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