Plainsight unveils OpenFilter to simplify vision AI pipelines
OpenFilter is available under the Apache 2.0 licence and is designed to help enterprises build, deploy, and manage vision AI pipelines using modular, reusable components, referred to as "filters". These filters combine code and AI models into building blocks for assembling custom vision pipelines.
The project aims to address key challenges that organisations face when implementing AI-driven computer vision in production environments, such as cost, scalability, and the complexity of infrastructure integration.
Priyanshu Sharma, Senior Data Engineer at BrickRed Systems, explained the practical benefits seen in manufacturing and logistics implementations. "OpenFilter has revolutionised how we deploy vision AI for our manufacturing and logistics clients. With its modular filter architecture, we can quickly build and customise pipelines for tasks like automated quality inspection and real-time inventory tracking, without having to rewrite core infrastructure. This flexibility has enabled us to deliver robust, scalable solutions that meet our clients' evolving needs, while dramatically reducing development time and operational complexity," Sharma said.
Plainsight claims that OpenFilter's features - including frame deduplication and priority scheduling - lower GPU inference costs, while its abstractions are intended to shorten deployment timelines from weeks to days. The system's extensible architecture is designed to future-proof investments, offering compatibility not only with computer vision but also adaptable extensions for audio, text, and multimodal AI use cases.
OpenFilter aims to bridge a common gap in computer vision adoption, where projects can stall due to fragmented tooling and difficulties in scaling from prototype to production. The platform includes several features: a core runtime available as open source, pre-built filters for tasks such as object tracking and image segmentation, and a pipeline management system that can handle various video inputs like RTSP streams, webcams, and image files. It enables routing of processed data to destinations including databases, MQTT brokers, or APIs.
The system is designed to support deployment across a wide range of hardware, from CPUs and GPUs to edge devices, allowing for resource optimisation in different environments. OpenFilter supports broad model integration, letting users deploy models from frameworks such as PyTorch and OpenCV, or custom models like YOLO, without vendor lock-in.
Typical use cases for OpenFilter span a variety of sectors. In manufacturing, the platform can be used for automated quality inspection, defect detection, and fill-level monitoring. Retailers and food service operations may use it for drive-through analytics or inventory tracking, while logistics operators could automate vehicle tracking or workflow processes. Additional applications include precision agriculture, surveillance, people counting, and event detection for IoT and edge environments.
Andrew Smith, CTO of Plainsight, commented on the broader aim for OpenFilter's architecture. "Filters are the building blocks for operationalising vision AI," Smith said. "Instead of wrestling with brittle pipelines and bespoke infrastructure, developers can snap together reusable components that scale from prototypes to production. It's how we make computer vision feel more like software engineering - and less like science experiments."
Chris Aniszczyk, CTO of CNCF, endorsed the open source nature of OpenFilter, saying, "OpenFilter is a leap forward for open source, giving developers and data scientists a powerful, collaborative platform to build and scale computer vision AI. Its modular design and permissive Apache 2.0 license make it easy to adapt solutions for everything from agriculture and manufacturing to retail and logistics, helping organisations of all types and sizes unlock the value of vision-based AI."
Kit Merker, CEO of Plainsight, described the broader ambition for OpenFilter in the industry. "OpenFilter is the abstraction the AI industry has been waiting for. We're making it possible for anyone - not just experts - to turn camera data into real business value, faster and at lower cost," Merker said.
"By treating vision workloads as modular filters, we give developers the power to build, scale, and update applications with the same ease and flexibility as modern cloud software. This isn't just about productivity, it's about democratising computer vision, unlocking new use cases, and making AI accessible and sustainable for every organisation. We believe this is the foundation for the next wave of AI-powered transformation."
Plainsight has made OpenFilter available to the public under the Apache 2.0 licence and offers an Early Access Programme for enterprises interested in a commercial version of the platform.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
19-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Home detention for role in defrauding Oranga Tamariki of more than $2m
The husband of a former Oranga Tamariki employee who helped his wife defraud the agency of more than $2 million has been sentenced to 12 months' home detention. Amandeep Sharma pleaded guilty to obtaining by deception and money laundering in May after he and his wife Neha Sharma kept their marriage secret and funnelled public money through his construction company Divine Connection Ltd. Neha Sharma, who was jailed for three years in May, kept the conflict of interest concealed as she approved the company's invoices, got him jobs that could have been carried out by other companies and even carried out work for the company during office hours. Less than two weeks after the Serious Fraud Office knocked on their front door, the couple booked two one-way business class to India, after transferring just under $800,000 overseas. Justice Eaton said he seriously considered jailing Sharma but sentenced him to home detention in order for him to seek rehabilitation and support his daughter. "The attitude you have displayed is worrying. It is indicative of a lack of accountability and does in my view display a degree of entitlement, perhaps arrogance," he said. Serious Fraud Office (SFO) director Karen Chang said Sharma and his wife took advantage of her position of trust for their own financial gain. "It is critical that we disrupt behaviour of this kind, which damages the integrity of our public institutions and threatens our reputation as a safe place to invest and do business," she said. "Corrupt behaviour by public servants is a key focus for the SFO, and we are currently advancing initiatives that will strengthen the New Zealand public sector's overall resilience to fraud and corruption." The SFO filed charges against the couple in 2023 alleging Neha Sharma had provided false references to secure her role at Oranga Tamariki where she managed aspects of properties in the Canterbury region, including maintenance, upkeep, and modifications. Neha Sharma set up her husband's company as a contractor without declaring a conflict of interest and then assigned work to this company over others suppliers, at a cost of $2.1 million to Oranga Tamariki. She then applied for a role at the transport agency, for which she also provided a false reference. The SFO said police seized the funds the couple had transferred. It said proceedings to return them to New Zealand were underway, while the High Court had issued a restraining order over the couple's properties in New Zealand. Chang thanked the police and Indian authorities for their swift action and the co-operation of Oranga Tamariki and the transport agency in the investigation.
Scoop
11-06-2025
- Scoop
Declining School Tech-Course Offerings Cause For Concern
Press Release – Mission Ready HQ Participation in tech-careers and courses among school leavers is declining, at a time when workforce demand for tech roles is rapidly increasing. Up to 10% decrease in student participation Schools opting out of tech courses Leading Kiwi tech-training provider trying to reverse trend Participation in tech-careers and courses among school leavers is declining, at a time when workforce demand for tech roles is rapidly increasing. A concerning trend is emerging from NCEA statistics that reveal a 10.4% decrease in participation and attainment in NCEA Level 1 technology subjects from 2023 to 2024. The decline is even more pronounced for tech-related courses at the tertiary level, with a 7.6% drop in enrolments for Level 3 certificates and a 9.3% decrease in diploma and certificate enrolments in 2023 alone. Leading Kiwi tech-training provider, Mission Ready, says compounding this issue is an increasing number of schools that are also opting out of offering Level 1 technology courses – either entirely or in part. 'Instead of technology courses and careers being popular, growing options among school leavers, there is actually now declining participation with Year 12 and Year 13 students, further limiting their access to these critical learning pathways and opportunities,' says Mission Ready co-founder, Diana Sharma. 'We're especially concerned because despite this downturn in student interest and course offerings, employer demand for tech-skilled workers continues to surge. As an example, 92% of job openings in New Zealand last year required digital expertise, with companies competing fiercely for talent in fields such as data analysis, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. 'The demand for AI and cybersecurity roles is particularly expected to accelerate in the next 12 months, driven by rapid advancements in technology and a growing need for robust data protection,' says Sharma. In response to this Mission Ready is trying to reverse the trend by teaming up with 10 secondary schools and learning institutions across New Zealand, offering more than $150,000 in scholarships in the process. 'The first 20-strong intake of Year 12/13 student trainees from across the motu has just got under way with a 16-week Tech Career Launchpad programme course aimed at inspiring and equipping Year 12 and 13 students for future careers in the tech sector.' The NCEA/NZQA-certified technology course costs $1920 for each student but is fully funded by the Mission Ready Foundation for the mainly low-decile schools taking part. The part-time course is integrated into the participating schools' curricula and includes live Teams meetings with Mission Ready trainers, self-paced modules, project-based learning and video content. Sharma says key objectives for the programme are challenging stereotypes that tech is 'just for geeks' and aligning students' unique skills and interests with real-world tech careers. 'We are all about bridging the gap between tech education and employment, and creating pathways to higher-skilled, higher-paying roles in the tech workforce – especially for our underrepresented rangatahi.' Mission Ready has scheduled more fully funded courses later this year and into 2026.
Scoop
10-06-2025
- Scoop
Declining School Tech-Course Offerings Cause For Concern
Press Release – Mission Ready HQ Participation in tech-careers and courses among school leavers is declining, at a time when workforce demand for tech roles is rapidly increasing. Up to 10% decrease in student participation Schools opting out of tech courses Leading Kiwi tech-training provider trying to reverse trend Participation in tech-careers and courses among school leavers is declining, at a time when workforce demand for tech roles is rapidly increasing. A concerning trend is emerging from NCEA statistics that reveal a 10.4% decrease in participation and attainment in NCEA Level 1 technology subjects from 2023 to 2024. The decline is even more pronounced for tech-related courses at the tertiary level, with a 7.6% drop in enrolments for Level 3 certificates and a 9.3% decrease in diploma and certificate enrolments in 2023 alone. Leading Kiwi tech-training provider, Mission Ready, says compounding this issue is an increasing number of schools that are also opting out of offering Level 1 technology courses – either entirely or in part. 'Instead of technology courses and careers being popular, growing options among school leavers, there is actually now declining participation with Year 12 and Year 13 students, further limiting their access to these critical learning pathways and opportunities,' says Mission Ready co-founder, Diana Sharma. 'We're especially concerned because despite this downturn in student interest and course offerings, employer demand for tech-skilled workers continues to surge. As an example, 92% of job openings in New Zealand last year required digital expertise, with companies competing fiercely for talent in fields such as data analysis, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. 'The demand for AI and cybersecurity roles is particularly expected to accelerate in the next 12 months, driven by rapid advancements in technology and a growing need for robust data protection,' says Sharma. In response to this Mission Ready is trying to reverse the trend by teaming up with 10 secondary schools and learning institutions across New Zealand, offering more than $150,000 in scholarships in the process. 'The first 20-strong intake of Year 12/13 student trainees from across the motu has just got under way with a 16-week Tech Career Launchpad programme course aimed at inspiring and equipping Year 12 and 13 students for future careers in the tech sector.' The NCEA/NZQA-certified technology course costs $1920 for each student but is fully funded by the Mission Ready Foundation for the mainly low-decile schools taking part. The part-time course is integrated into the participating schools' curricula and includes live Teams meetings with Mission Ready trainers, self-paced modules, project-based learning and video content. Sharma says key objectives for the programme are challenging stereotypes that tech is 'just for geeks' and aligning students' unique skills and interests with real-world tech careers. 'We are all about bridging the gap between tech education and employment, and creating pathways to higher-skilled, higher-paying roles in the tech workforce – especially for our underrepresented rangatahi.' Mission Ready has scheduled more fully funded courses later this year and into 2026.
