Artificial Intelligence algorithms have drastically improved existing services, enabled new technologies and innovation. However, not all are able to reap the benefits. To expand the availability of AI, Microsoft has formed a partnership with OpenAI, a nonprofit organization founded by Elon Musk.
Under this partnership, Microsoft is dedicating its artificial intelligence research department to Elon Musk’s OpenAI infrastructure to develop AI beneficial technology such as the first cloud bot service in the industry, available on the Microsoft Azure cloud platform.
The combination of resources of the two companies will enable large-scale AI simulations and training exercises for OpenAI, while Microsoft will benefit from the newest research on Azure. The overall purpose of the partnership is to expand the accessibility of AI and machine learning technology. Microsoft has stated that it wants to democratize AI and give people the resources required to achieve breakthroughs in both their personal and professional endeavors.
The company also stated that their partnership with OpenAI is based on achieving the same goals, so a collaboration was the natural thing to do. Basically, through their partnership, both companies are hoping to use the advantages of AI technology to address some of the problems our world is currently facing.
In regards to OpenAI, the nonprofit was founded last year by Elon Musk together with San Altman. Together they pledged a sum of $1 billion for AI research. The nonprofit hopes to develop AI technology which can be used to positively impact society rather than just using it for attaining a financial profit through software development.
Both companies have reiterated their commitment to the betterment of human society by developing AI and assuring that the technology, as well as the knowledge behind it, will be readily available to anyone. Microsoft has contributed over the years to a number of open-source technologies and pledged to avoid the restriction of knowledge and research for financial gain. The company has a lot to gain through their OpenAI partnership by improving the Azure cloud computing service and bringing to the hands of more people.
This partnership will enable Microsoft to rival other companies like Facebook and Google, which have invested heavily in AI and machine learning to improve their services.
Image source: Flickr