- AI innovation and data privacy go hand in hand
- BMW Group publishes AI anonymisation algorithms
- No-code AI: Users with no programming skills can create AI
applications, including data privacy, in a short time
Munich. The BMW Group is publishing an anonymisation
solution based on artificial intelligence (AI)that can anonymise
objects in photos and videos. Building on the BMW labelling tool Lite,
these algorithms (github.com/BMW-InnovationLab) enable targeted
protection of relevant information: The user-friendly software tool
uses AI to block out or blur objects or people. The granularity and
degree of anonymisation can be intuitively adjusted.
“AI applications supports us with quality assurance, such as
inspection of parts and components, as well as development of our
autonomous, smart logistics robots. The AI anonymisation algorithms
now published also ensure optimal data privacy and information
protection,” explains Markus Grüneisl, head of Production System,
Digitalisation at the BMW Group. “Making the anonymisation solution
intuitive to operate was an important aspect of development for us, to
ensure it can easily be used for a wide range of applications.”
The BMW Group uses artificial intelligence for object detection in
production, since it offers a particularly high level of robustness –
even under highly variable boundary conditions. AI-based image
processing contributes in this way to maintaining premium quality. The
recently released anonymisation solution also relies on artificial
intelligence. AI automatically classifies image areas according to
their features, so any areas that need to be made unrecognisable can
be blocked out – for example, when processing photos from production.
Different modes of anonymisation can be selected: Respective areas in
photos or videos can be blurred, blacked out or pixelated.
The main technology used is the BMW labelling tool Lite, which allows
users to label photos and train the AI with just one click. Each label
serves as a digital tag that describes the information contained in
the photo.
With no-code AI, production staff can create their own artificial
intelligence solutions to support them in their individual processes.
The new modular anonymisation algorithms allow photos to be processed
automatically. In the BMW production system, for instance, areas
containing people are deliberately made unrecognisable. Thanks to this
AI-based anonymisation solution, there are no limitations on the use
of image processing systems.
The published algorithms are freely available to software developers
around the world – so they can use the algorithms and view, modify and
further develop the source code. The BMW Group will also benefit from
these further developments. A special feature of this now freely
available software package is its simple and uncomplicated application
based on the plug-and-play principle. The user does not require any
programming skills, specific hardware or additional software.
The BMW Group published selected AI algorithms used in the production
system for the first time in 2019. “The tremendous amount of feedback
we received on the algorithms we published overwhelmed us. Our BMW AI
community is very happy with the appreciation we are receiving
worldwide. We are seeing many further developments based on our source
code and no-code AI approach. We will continue following this approach
and sharing our no-code AI algorithms so artificial intelligence can
be made accessible to a wide range of users,” explains Kai Demtröder,
head of Data Transformation and Artificial Intelligence.
The BMW Group uses a variety of applications from the field of
artificial intelligence (AI) in production and logistics. AI
technology reduces the strain on employees, by relieving them of particularly monotonous or tiring control tasks.
AI applications are used in the BMW Group production system to
recognise and classify objects in images. For example, this ensures
all vehicles are built in the customised configuration as ordered and
that all components are in flawless condition. Another area of
application for the anonymisation algorithms is the development of
autonomous smart logistics robots – STR. The anonymisation algorithms
simplify development significantly by using real images to train the
robots directly. To make AI accessible to a wide range of users,
programmers from the TechOffice in Munich are developing so-called
no-code AI, so every user can train an AI model without having to
programme a single line of software code. Numerous applications have
already been realised in the BMW production system with the help of
this AI self-service option.
Further information can be found at: https://github.com/BMW-InnovationLab
Competence centre for the entire company: "Project AI"
“Project AI” was launched in 2018 to ensure AI technologies are
applied in an ethical and efficient manner. It serves as the BMW Group
competence centre for data analytics and machine learning, and ensures
knowledge and technology are shared swiftly across the entire company.
Project AI therefore plays a key role in the growing digital
transformation of the BMW Group and supports efficient development and
scaling of intelligent data and AI technologies.
Among other things, a portfolio platform was developed that creates
transparency in the company-wide application of technologies that make
data-driven decisions. This so-called D³ portfolio (Data-Driven
Decisions) currently comprises around 500 applications – more than 70
of which have already been made available for regular operation.
