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Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the evolution and future potential of the company Xidi Technology, emphasizing its commitment to open-source innovation and support for makers, while also highlighting its recent strategic shift towards AI applications and the establishment of a fund to support hardware startups. Group 1: Company Overview - Xidi Technology, founded by Pan Hao in 2009, focuses on the research, production, and sales of edge computing hardware, network communication hardware, and smart sensing hardware, forming a complete open product system around the Internet of Things (IoT) [4][10] - The company has developed a modular and open-source hardware module product system, aiding global developers in quickly building prototype samples [26] Group 2: Innovation and Maker Support - Pan Hao emphasizes the importance of returning to the "maker" ethos, advocating for open-source tools to enable more people to participate in innovation [6][10] - The company established the Chaihuo Maker Space, providing professional equipment and an open collaborative environment for makers [12] - Xidi Technology's revenue model includes customized production services for makers and sales of open-source hardware modules, significantly reducing intellectual property risks [16] Group 3: AI Integration - In 2023, Xidi Technology began integrating AI into its products, focusing on empowering small terminal devices to process and analyze data in real-time, thus reducing reliance on cloud services [18][20] - The XIAO module, a low-cost AI chip, can run AI algorithms on small, low-power hardware without internet connectivity, making it suitable for various applications [22] Group 4: Future Directions and Challenges - The company plans to enhance its support for makers by providing better AI hardware open-source platforms, aiming to help them bring their products to market [27] - Xidi Technology launched the Xidi Fund to support long-term users and members of the Chaihuo Maker Space, offering financial and technical assistance to hardware startups [29][31] - The fund targets hard technology applications while excluding consumer electronics, addressing the funding challenges faced by teams in this sector [31]