Bosch shuts down its app store for AI-powered, internet-connected cameras - TechCrunch

In 2018, appliance conglomerate Bosch created a startup, Security and Safety Things (or “SAST” for short), whose stated ngo was to make a level to assistance developers make bundle for AI-equipped cameras. SAST was to big a moderated, vetted “app store” for internet-connected cameras that would let developers to physique bundle connected an unfastened modular — bundle chiefly focused connected information and “business intelligence” usage cases.

SAST successfully launched the app store successful 2020, aboriginal rebranding it (and itself) to Azena and opening a office successful Pittsburgh’s Strip District. But aft tens of millions of euros successful concern from Bosch, SAST — present Azena — seemingly ne'er rather achieved the occurrence that its genitor institution hoped it would.

TechCrunch has learned that Azena is shutting down its outer operations and pivoting to interior projects astatine Bosch. In a statement, a Bosch spokesperson said that partners and customers person been informed and that Azena volition “fully honor” its existing contractual obligations.

“Moving forward, Azena volition absorption connected Bosch interior concern and halt outer concern development. This includes a modulation to attraction and enactment lone for [Azena’s software]” the spokesperson said via email. “All level components of Azena enactment operational for present … We are actively moving connected a modulation plan.”

Azena’s marketplace was comparatively robust by IP camera marketplace standards, with astir 100 apps astatine its peak. Like fashionable app stores for smartphones, it fto developers merchantability their apps to customers and supply demos for aviator projects. The app store would grip backing up and restoring settings and ensuring configurations remained accordant crossed cameras.

Prior to its partial shutdown, Azena had besides been processing an operating strategy for cameras that enabled supported models to tally aggregate AI-enabled apps simultaneously. Built connected apical of Android, manufacturers including Qisda/Topview, AndroVideo, Vivotek and Bosch itself sold cameras moving the firmware, which powered apps for vigor mapping and queue investigation successful retail stores, automated outgo processing, licence sheet designation and more.

As of September 2021, Azena had implicit 120 employees dispersed passim its offices successful Munich, its installation successful Pittsburgh and an R&D hub successful Eindhoven, The Netherlands. The startup counted NHL hockey squad the Pittsburgh Penguins among its customers, who utilized the Azena level to show crowding astatine stadium entrances, admit licence plates and place overcrowding adjacent instrumentality merchandise retail locations.

Azena generated contention earlier this twelvemonth erstwhile it came to light that the startup was lone carrying retired basal auditing of the bundle hosted successful its app store. According to the company’s presumption of use, work for the morals and legality of the apps rested squarely connected the shoulders of developers and users. Some apps claimed to accurately observe weapons and analyse quality behavior, applications that galore ethicists accidental are beyond the capabilities of adjacent the astir blase AI systems. 

In a nationalist effect astatine the time, Azena noted that it required developers moving connected its level to perpetrate to abiding by ethical concern standards laid retired by the United Nations. But the startup admitted that it didn’t person the quality to cheque however Azena-powered cameras were utilized and didn’t verify whether apps sold connected its store were ineligible oregon successful compliance with developer agreements.

An investigation by The Intercept besides recovered grounds that Azena was years down connected patching information exploits that could let hackers entree to cameras moving its operating system. Azena disputed the suggestion, but acknowledged that Azena’s firmware permitted users to sideload apps extracurricular of the app store onto supported cameras.