Edge AI reacts faster. It processes video on the camera or a local device beside it, so it can sound an alarm, change a light or signal a compatible forklift to slow while the hazard is still present, and it keeps working if the internet connection drops. Cloud video analytics sends footage or frames off site for processing first, which adds network delay and depends on connectivity, so it suits reporting, trend analysis and review rather than intervention. Many systems combine the two, with edge processing for real-time alerts and the cloud for dashboards, search and multi-site comparison.
Ask suppliers for measured latency from event to alert on your own network rather than a typical figure, and check what happens during an outage: whether the edge device keeps alerting and stores events for upload later. Edge devices need on-site upkeep, including firmware updates and lens cleaning, and their accuracy is limited by the processing power in the device. Cloud analytics can run larger models and is easier to update centrally, but it raises data-protection questions about where video is stored. The AI forklift safety guide explains the layers, and the privacy guide covers storage and access.