Happy Hump Day, GenAI readers.
Last Wednesday, I wrote a story featured on IoT Evolution World about a company that site covers often – Soracom, Inc.
For context, Soracom is a provider of advanced Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity services. Founded back in 2015, Soracom has championed a number of IoT solutions, remaining a very active player in this space. Its achievements span strategic partnerships with goal-aligned organizations, to its deployment-simplifying services powered by machine learning and GenAI (we’ll talk more about that, in a moment), its configurable LTE-M-based smart buttons for eSIMs and industrial-grade SIM offerings for rugged IIoT applications, and more examples of the company working to meet evolving connectivity demands around the world. (Read here for a story-by-story recap of recent Soracom news. The company joined the AWS ISV Accelerate Program last month, too; that additional coverage is here.)
And in the vein of GenAI, here’s a brand-new Soracom announcement.
Earlier this morning, Soracom proudly unveiled two new services that are designed to accelerate the deployment of larger, more complex IoT projects. These are made possible by embedding GenAI-centric capabilities deep in the IoT connectivity stack.
What are the services in question?
Soracom Flux and Soracom Query Intelligence.
Below, you’ll find summaries on each:
Soracom Flux is a low-code IoT application builder that eases users into simpler custom application creation; specifically, applications that automate operations via integration of multiple data sources with, according to the company, “leading cloud-based GenAI engines, including OpenAI, Google Gemini, Microsoft Azure AI and Amazon Bedrock.” With Soracom Flux, teams IoT applications are generated in mere minutes (i.e. based on user-defined data flows and natural language instructions). Imagine an application (built with the above info in mind) that is capable of sending alerts if workers in a camera’s field of view are not wearing the appropriate protective gear on a work site. Not as a bother, by any means; instead, as a necessary safety nudge to prevent undue harm in environments like construction, manufacturing, security, etc. (This is but one example, of course.)
Soracom Query Intelligence is a managed data warehouse service that enables customers to stream or import device data into a highly available distributed database. For instance, managers of large IoT deployments can use GenAI through this service to query their own IoT network data (again, via natural language prompts) and receive immediate analysis in the form of descriptive texts and data visualizations. (Not quite like Tony Stark/Iron Man, but perhaps we’re getting there.) Years of experience in working with data like this isn’t required; according to Soracom, “anyone can perform complex analyses, with no need for SQL programming – platform-level data is at your fingertips.”
This sounds exceptional, particularly for non-technical users looking to build AI-integrated IoT applications in real time. Being able to a.) automate application assembly with natural language and b.) query your own system in order to troubleshoot or ask for unique readouts may sound super futuristic to some, but Soracom is confident in making this a reality.
“We’ve always envisioned an Internet of Things where connected devices can legitimately interact with each other to help humans make quick, data-forward decisions,” explained Soracom co-founder and CTO Kenta Yasukawa (whom I had the pleasure of interviewing this past February as IoT Evolution Expo was underway; read here).
“The emergence of public GenAI services holds the potential to fulfill that vision,” Yasukawa continued. “Soracom Flux and Soracom Query Intelligence drive AI much deeper within the IoT stack. Project teams can now accomplish in minutes what once took months and required expert skills, and even non-technical managers can now enjoy complete control of even the largest and most globally distributed IoT networks.”
Per the official announcement, Soracom Flux “is now available to all Soracom customers in Public Beta with a free tier.” (Pro and Enterprise-tier plans will reportedly be made available later this year.) Soracom Query Intelligence is currently available to select Soracom customers as a “Technology Preview” – those interested are invited to contact Soracom to get started.
Edited by
Greg Tavarez
