The Digital Press

Microsoft has released a comprehensive open-source course called "EdgeAI for Beginners," designed to teach developers how to deploy AI models locally on edge devices for privacy, speed, and efficiency.

Why it matters: Edge AI allows real-time, privacy-preserving AI processing on devices without relying on cloud connectivity.

The big picture: The course covers fundamentals, popular small language models (SLMs), optimization, deployment, and advanced AI agents across multiple platforms.

Quick takeaway: The modular course includes hands-on projects, cross-platform samples, and production-ready tools for real-world AI applications.

Commenters say: Users appreciate Microsoft's focus on SLMs and local AI but debate definitions of edge AI, question AI-written content, and seek clarity on hardware and business models.