Amazon Web Services (AWS), a subsidiary of e-commerce giant Amazon, has revealed plans to invest $100 million in generative artificial intelligence (AI). The company aims to establish a Generative AI Center that will assist businesses in leveraging generative AI for their benefit.
AWS CEO explains strategy for Generative AI
Unlike some other tech companies that quickly embraced AI, Amazon took a more measured approach, similar to Apple. AWS CEO Adam Selipsky explained their strategy for the $100 million investment by using a race analogy: “You ask yourself the question, where are the different runners three steps into a 10K race? Does it really matter? The point is, you’re three steps in, and it’s a 10K race.”
Amazon’s leadership believes that AI technology requires time to develop a market that can be effectively monetized. They prefer not to rush into capturing market shares with potentially incomplete or unsafe products. Selipsky mentioned that many Fortune 500 companies hesitated to adopt ChatGPT in the enterprise due to initial versions lacking enterprise security.
Despite the limited investment, Amazon appears genuinely interested in AI and considers it the “next wave of innovation in the cloud.” Selipsky emphasized that generative AI relies on the cloud and predicted it would attract more customers to adopt cloud services.
The Amazon Generative AI Center, contrary to its name, is not a physical center but rather a program. Amazon plans to hire scientists, engineers, and solutions architects to enhance its AI research and operations. Additionally, the company is collaborating with various organizations such as Highspot, Twilio, RyanAir, and Lonely Planet on AI technologies.
By making this substantial investment in generative AI and establishing the center, Amazon aims to position itself at the forefront of AI innovation and contribute to shaping the future of this transformative technology.
