Raspberry Pi 5 Gets USD 130 AI HAT with 8GB RAM for Machine Learning Workloads
Developers and hobbyists eyeing machine learning projects now have a powerful new tool for their Raspberry Pi 5. Raspberry Pi has unveiled an AI-focused hardware expansion that could transform how small-scale computing handles complex workloads.
The company's latest AI HAT+2 promises to offload intensive computational tasks from the main board, potentially opening up new possibilities for edge computing and AI experiments. Priced at $130, the add-on board comes with a substantial 8GB of RAM, specifically designed to accelerate machine learning applications.
This isn't just another peripheral. The AI HAT+2 represents a strategic approach to expanding the Raspberry Pi's capabilities without overwhelming its primary processor. By creating a dedicated space for AI computations, Raspberry Pi is signaling its commitment to making advanced computing more accessible to makers, researchers, and tech enthusiasts.
The board's targeted design suggests a nuanced understanding of how developers want to experiment with artificial intelligence on compact, affordable hardware. And for those tracking the evolution of small-scale computing, this could be a significant milestone.
The Raspberry Pi 5 can shift AI-related workloads to the $130 AI HAT +2. Once connected, the Raspberry Pi 5 will use the AI HAT+ 2 to handle AI-related workloads while leaving the main board's Arm CPU available to complete other tasks. Unlike the previous AI HAT+, which is focused on image-based AI processing, the AI HAT+ 2 comes with onboard RAM and can run small gen AI models like Llama 3.2 and DeepSeek-R1-Distill, along with a series of Qwen models.
You can train and fine-tune AI models using the device as well. A demo shared by Raspberry Pi shows how you can use the add-on board to power an AI model capable of generating a text-based description of a camera stream, as well as answer a question about whether there are any people in the scene.
Raspberry Pi's latest AI HAT+ 2 signals an intriguing shift for hobbyist computing. The $130 add-on board brings serious machine learning capabilities directly to the Raspberry Pi 5, with 8GB of RAM and a Hailo 10H chip delivering 40 TOPS of AI performance.
This upgrade allows users to offload AI workloads from the main Arm CPU, freeing up processing power for concurrent tasks. Unlike its predecessor, which focused primarily on image-based AI, the new module suggests broader generative AI model support.
Local AI processing remains a complex challenge for small-scale computing. Still, Raspberry Pi's approach offers makers and developers an affordable entry point into running machine learning models without cloud dependency.
The board's price point and specifications hint at growing accessibility in AI technology. Hobbyists and developers can now experiment with generative AI models more directly, using a familiar and flexible computing platform.
Whether this represents a meaningful step in democratizing AI development remains to be seen. But for now, the AI HAT+ 2 provides an intriguing tool for those eager to explore local AI capabilities.
Further Reading
- A Hands-On Review of the Raspberry Pi AI HAT+ 2 - Hackster.io
- Raspberry Pi AI HAT+ 2 Review: The brains and the brawn - Tom's Hardware
- Raspberry Pi's New AI Hat Adds 8GB of RAM for Local LLMs - Hacker News
Related Reading
Common Questions Answered
What unique capabilities does the Raspberry Pi 5 AI HAT+ 2 offer for machine learning projects?
The AI HAT+ 2 provides 8GB of RAM and a Hailo 10H chip capable of delivering 40 TOPS of AI performance. Unlike its predecessor, this add-on can run small generative AI models like Llama 3.2, DeepSeek-R1-Distill, and Qwen models, while offloading intensive computational tasks from the main Raspberry Pi 5 board.
How does the AI HAT+ 2 improve processing efficiency for Raspberry Pi 5 users?
The AI HAT+ 2 allows users to shift AI-related workloads away from the main Arm CPU, freeing up processing power for concurrent tasks. By using the dedicated AI HAT+ 2, developers can run machine learning models and AI experiments without compromising the performance of other computational processes.
What is the pricing and key performance specification of the Raspberry Pi 5 AI HAT+ 2?
The AI HAT+ 2 is priced at $130 and comes with 8GB of RAM and a Hailo 10H chip that provides 40 TOPS (trillion operations per second) of AI performance. This expansion board represents a significant upgrade from previous AI HAT models, offering broader generative AI capabilities for hobbyists and developers.