Smart Streetlights Integrated with Nvidia Jetson Offer Owners Income Through AI Training

Streetlights as AI Powerhouses: Earn Money by Training AI with Smart Lamps

Imagine your streetlights not just illuminating your path, but actively contributing to the advancement of artificial intelligence, and even earning you money in the process. This revolutionary concept is on the horizon, thanks to a British startup called Conflow Power Group. They are pioneering a fascinating integration of Nvidia's powerful Jetson processors into their intelligent streetlights, the iLamp, transforming them into decentralized computational nodes for AI.

This innovative approach echoes other unconventional uses of energy. We've seen Bitcoin mining employed to heat homes in the US, demonstrating a creative re-purposing of power. However, the iLamp operates on an entirely different, more sustainable principle. Each unit is equipped with solar panels and batteries, offering an eco-friendly, grid-independent solution. While the streetlight function itself requires a modest 80 watts, the surplus energy, ranging from 200 to 600 watts, is ample to power additional modules, including the compact yet potent Nvidia Jetson processors, each consuming approximately 15 watts. The initial investment for a base model iLamp is set at around $9,900.

A Distributed AI Datacenter on Every Corner?

Conflow Power Group's vision is audacious: to enable iLamp owners to generate income by lending the processing power of these integrated AI chips to AI service providers. While the precise mechanics of this revenue-sharing model are still under wraps, the implication is clear – a vast, distributed AI data center emerging on our streets. This isn't just a futuristic dream; the iLamp is designed for extensive connectivity. It can readily accommodate 5G, Wi-Fi, cameras, environmental sensors, CCTV systems, additional GPUs, and sophisticated motion control systems.

Developers highlight that these iLamps can function as micro-servers, offering remarkably low latency. Edward Fitzpatrick, Director of Conflow, articulates the core benefit: "By replacing traditional streetlights with iLamps equipped with Nvidia Jetson processors, you're creating a massive distributed data center that is clean, water-free, and operates with low latency, as servers are located close to users." This proximity is key to unlocking new possibilities in real-time AI applications.

Beyond Illumination: Enhanced Safety and Connectivity

The iLamp isn't just about raw processing power; it's a multifaceted smart city solution. These units come with an impressive 20-year warranty and operate under a licensing business model. Conflow has already seen significant market traction, having granted exclusive rights for Florida last year for $45 million, and subsequently reselling half of that license for $80 million to a project encompassing 4,400 schools. Advanced versions of the iLamp boast features like license plate and facial recognition, gunshot detection, fire alerts, traffic speed control, and even private communication channels for sports clubs.

It's a stark reminder of the rapid evolution – and occasional pitfalls – of AI in public spaces. Just recently, a similar AI safety system mistakenly identified a student's chips as a firearm, leading to an unnecessary police response. Nevertheless, Conflow is actively engaging in discussions with governments and corporations worldwide, aiming for widespread adoption of their intelligent streetlights. The company is not alone in exploring this frontier; other startups are experimenting with similar distributed AI platforms. For instance, Belgium-based Tonomia is collaborating with Panchaea to develop eCloud, an AI platform intended for deployment under solar carports.