Comparing Cloud and On-Device Inference for Computer Vision Models

For years, cloud-first architecture dominated computer vision systems, but a shift toward edge-based inference is evident due to latency, bandwidth, privacy, and high-resolution sensor concerns. Modern systems combine cloud and edge processing, leveraging cloud inference for large, compute-intensive models and unpredictable workloads, while edge inference is favored for real-time, low-latency applications in environments with limited connectivity or strict privacy requirements. Roboflow's RF-DETR architecture exemplifies this hybrid approach, using lightweight edge models for immediate tasks and cloud-based models for complex reasoning, improving both performance and resource efficiency. This strategy allows for scalable, high-reliability vision systems, where cloud and edge are treated as deployment targets within a unified workflow. Active learning loops further enhance this system by using cloud resources to refine edge models, demonstrating that the optimal computer vision workflow integrates on-device processing for immediate tasks with cloud-based reasoning for broader context and refinement.