“How Staqu is mitigating adverse disasters and providing data analysis to the surveillance systems?”

CXOToday has engaged in an exclusive interview with Mr. Atul Rai, Co-Founder & CEO at Staqu Technologies.

With what mission and objectives, was the company set up? In short, brief us about your journey since the inception of the company.

At our previous start-up, I (Atul), Anurag, and Pankaj happened to meet. We were collaborating on one of the projects. I worked in research, Anurag in engineering, and Pankaj in cloud computing. We realized that we all complemented each other, so we decided to establish a dedicated AI company that solves the problem of automation in audio-video data pointers. Subsequently, in 2015, we founded Staqu, which primarily works in the audio-video analytics and management domain with our product JARVIS. Staqu facilitates a seamless solution for any problem involving image analysis and information extraction.

We’ve come a long way since the launch of our product offerings. We have over 100 companies working with us on direct lines. Some of the top prominent brands working with us include Raymond, Cafe Coffee Day, Starbucks, Chaayos, Crocs, GMR, JK Cement, Agrocel and more. In addition, nine state police forces are working in collaboration with us to meet their needs for safety and security monitoring, as well as facial recognition for criminals. Our mission is to integrate JARVIS technology into all cameras, making them as intelligent as humans.

How did you choose to build a brand in AI-led Visual Analytics?

For every CCTV camera installed, a security guard has to closely monitor for violence or intrusion. The massive stream of data coming in necessitates the guards’ attention to keep an eye out for various activities based solely on their comprehension. Practically, the human brain is incapable of analyzing such a large number of feeds. According to recent data, we now have more cameras than people on the planet. This means that even if we put humans behind every feed, we won’t be able to cover every camera. However, AI can now play a major role in filling this vacuum by automating monitoring related to security, safety, or similar types of data analysis. It can automate various security or safety protocols, eliminating the possibility of error and completing tasks that would otherwise be impossible for humans to accomplish. This is where our well-known product JARVIS comes into play. JARVIS automates real-time facial recognition, vehicle detection, people counting, and detection of intrusion, fire, and violence.

Brief us about the JARVIS tool by Staqu.

JARVIS is a platform for audio-video analytics and management that has revolutionized how people think about security cameras. It follows the novel method of extracting meaningful information from long CCTV video footage by using AI and computer vision to generate short and crisp real time alerts. JARVIS, powered by Artificial Intelligence, patented technologies, and one-of-a-kind capabilities, provides security innovation and the best possible business solution. JARVIS’ deep learning-based Facial Recognition module can recognize people, manage attendance, and detect blacklisted individuals. It also uses audio samples to identify criminals. The Facial Recognition System, for example, has more than 99.7% accuracy in the LFW Dataset, Youtube Faces, Indian and foreign facial databases.

What are the use cases of Visual Data Analytics?

Businesses in the modern era have begun to recognize the importance of data solutions. Staqu is bringing much-needed security paradigm reformation, assisting stakeholders in quick decision-making and proactive response generation. JARVIS, our brainchild, has proven to be one of the best Artificial Intelligence-based customizable Video Analytics Engines, with cutting-edge facial recognition technology and intelligent monitoring of objects, crowds, perimeters, and vehicles. JARVIS provides a user-friendly dashboard that enables clients to monitor critical incidents and take appropriate action. The Video Wall panel allows for real-time centralized monitoring of all cameras from various locations on a single screen. With over 40 use cases, JARVIS Video Analytics provides accurate, flexible, and comprehensive solutions. Insights from 85+ analytics also help to accelerate situational awareness and improve operational intelligence.

Elaborate on facial recognition technology and intelligent monitoring as a solution to security concerns.

Previously, surveillance cameras could only record people’s faces and body movements; however, with ever-changing security scenarios and the adoption of new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, multiple institutions are modernizing their security infrastructure to meet the demanding needs of a changing environment. Defence Forces, Local Police Departments, and businesses with critical infrastructures, such as refineries, harbours, airport terminals, and power plants, are rapidly adopting AI Audio-Video Analytics and Facial Recognition systems due to their numerous advantages. For instance, unattended objects and misaligned behaviour are easily identified and detected by video analytics and facial recognition (VA-FR) systems. Moreover, video analytics also comprehends multiple faces, analyses audio, and detects blacklist intrusion, fire or violence across multiple camera streams simultaneously in real time.

What in your opinion is the role of video analytics in building smart cities?

In order to instill a sense of safety and ensure the continuation of development activities, a smart city must provide security to all citizens. Surveillance cameras outfitted with advanced video analytics tools such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and the Cloud are capable of providing necessary insights and monitoring every movement. Real-time data collection and analysis can empower authorities by providing key insight and making it easier for city officials to collect, store, and interpret information. Smart cameras are effective enough to prevent crime, detect traffic violations, prevent crowding, and avert minor to major security issues that traditional cameras cannot identify. Furthermore, it can assist cities all over the world in detecting people who are not adhering to Covid-19 safety protocols.

What is the future roadmap for Staqu?

As previously stated, our vision is to integrate JARVIS technology into all cameras in order to make cameras as intelligent as humans. With our product offerings, we have already solved numerous problem statements in the security, retail, and manufacturing industries. Therefore, in the coming years, we are highly motivated to expand our customer base, refine our product offerings, and establish ourselves in new geographies, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom, which offer a diverse range of opportunities for business operation and growth. In terms of revenue, we expect to easily exceed INR 20 crore this fiscal year.