Milestone Systems brings Berlin-based brighter AI into the fold

Advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have served to raise concerns around data privacy across the world. One of the biggest challenges in developing AI solutions is finding and accessing sufficient data that can be used. Without data, there are no AI models to train, which are essential for existing AI technologies such as ChatGPT and Copilot.

This challenge is particularly significant in the video data space, where it’s even more difficult to find data that doesn’t contain sensitive personal information. The solution lies within regulation-compliant data and this is exactly what brighter AI’s anonymisation technology brings forward.

The acquisition of brighter AI also opens up a range of new opportunities with anonymisation capabilities and privacy enhancement, which protects data and enables full data privacy. The addition of brighter AI significantly strengthens Milestone’s offer for video management software, Video Surveillance-as-a-Service and video analytics, while also serving to fuel the company’s ongoing growth journey both in and beyond the security sector.

Additionally, brighter AI’s anonymisation technology serves as a cornerstone of the recently announced data library and AI model training tool Project Hafnia.

Strengthening European competitiveness

The Privacy-by-Design tool developed by brighter AI further solidifies Milestone’s position as a leading ‘Responsible Technology’ company. Combining two European tech leaders with a focus on taking a responsible approach to AI development will be a significant contribution in terms of making Europe the leader in the global AI and tech landscape.

It's testament to European innovation and strengthens the continent’s competitiveness, while also protecting individual privacy for citizens.

Thomas Jensen, CEO at Milestone Systems, stated: “brighter AI is a perfect match for Milestone. Its proven technology is first-class and will give us a wider offer for both existing and future technology partners and customers. The anonymisation tool for video technology will also enhance our focus on responsible technology.”

Jensen continued: “Our two company cultures are highly compatible. Having known brighter AI for a while, as we have an established collaboration on Project Hafnia, we have complete faith that this will acquisition will be a great benefit for all. We’re very pleased to welcome our new colleagues.”

Deep Natural Anonymisation

Founded in 2017 by Marian and Patrick Kern, brighter AI serves companies across various sectors and is recognised as the leading anonymisation solution for video data based on AI.

For the Deep Natural Anonymisation solution, which automatically detects a personal identifier such as a face and generates a synthetic replacement, brighter AI was named Europe’s ‘Hottest AI Start-Up’ by Nvidia.

Marian Gläser observed: “brighter AI was founded with the mission to make visual data usable in a privacy-preserving way. Joining Milestone Systems marks an exciting new chapter. Together, we can scale that mission to a global level out of Europe. Milestone’s leadership in responsible video technology and its vision with Project Hafnia align perfectly with our own values.”

Gläser added: “We’re proud that our anonymisation solutions will become a core pillar of a platform that’s set to redefine how compliant and high-quality video data is used to train AI. We’re ready to shape the future of visual AI: secure, ethical, and transformative.”

brighter AI currently employs 24 members of staff who will continue their work as part of a separate business area within the Milestone organisation.

*Further information is available online at www.milestonesys.com