Amazon offers free credits for startups to use AI models, including Anthropic.

Amazon Web Service (AWS) has expanded its free credit program for startups to cover major usage costs. A.I models, the company told Reuters in an interview, as it expands the market share of its AI platform Bedrock.

In a move to attract startup customers, Amazon now allows its cloud credits to cover usage of other providers’ models. BushraMeta, Mistral AI, and Cohere.

“This is another gift we’re giving back to the startup ecosystem, and in return we hope startups will continue to choose AWS as their first stop,” said Howard Wright, vice president and CEO at AWS. said the global head of startups.

The move follows Amazon’s now-completed $4 billion (roughly Rs. 33,383 crore) investment in Anthropic in convertible notes. As part of the deal, Anthropic will use AWS as its primary cloud provider, and use the Trainium and Inferentia chips to build and train its models.

Amazon’s free credit will contribute to revenue for Anthropic, one of Bedrock’s most popular models, Wright said.

“It’s part of building an ecosystem. We’re not apologetic about it,” he said, adding that AWS offers a wide range of choices and security for startups.

Amazon said it has offered more than $6 billion (about Rs 50,080 crore) to startups in the last decade.

In partnership with Y Combinator, it is offering $500,000 (about Rs 4.1 crore) in credit to the latest cohort, launched in January, which can be used on AI models and Amazon’s chips. The cost of using AI can accrue to startups, based on usage.

Amazon is not alone among major cloud providers in offering free credit to attract AI startups. Microsoft Azure offers credits that can be used for OpenAI models, while Google’s Cloud Credits can be applied to more than 130 models on Vertex AI.

Big tech investments in AI startups have drawn scrutiny from regulators, such as the US Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) support for Microsoft’s OpenAI, as well as Google and Amazon’s investments in Anthropic. Initiated an inquiry into Kari.

© Thomson Reuters 2024

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