Last week, an interesting industry news that Microsoft and Amazon announced a surprise partnership to build AI platform (named Gluon) for an enterprise. Gluon makes it easier for developers to build AI/machine learning systems, and related Apps with open source concept.
I've an interesting dimension of this technology partnership to challenge Google's big area of AI dominance using Tensorflow.
Google TensorflowGoogle already has a head start with a tool called Tensorflow, which is free and open source and aimed at helping developers build machine learning apps. Tensorflow is immensely popular with developers.
In fact, it's the the fifth most popular project (by stars) on GitHub out of the over 2 million hosted on that site where open source projects are shared. Quick introduction video is shown at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MotG3XI2qSs
Amazon MXNetNaturally, Amazon has a competitor to Tensorflow called MXNet. Deep learning on AWS with MXNet, is shown at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emDxDLI9FRw
Microsoft CNTKMicrosoft has a competitor tool for Tensorflow, called CNTK (Cognitive Tool Kit). Microsoft's open source deep-learning toolkit is shown at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb9K10JwR2g
Strategic Partnership
Machine learning and AI are the next big things in cloud computing, with the potential to cause significant changes to the cloud business that Amazon and Microsoft have long dominated.
Microsoft and Amazon have been known to cuddle up on other AI types of tech.
In August, the two announced they were partnering to make their two voice assistants work better together , Amazon Alexa and Microsoft Cortana.
Joint Venture GluonMicrosoft and Amazon have joined forces to help spread artificial intelligence across apps. They released a new tool for developers called Gluon as a free and open source project, meaning anyone can use it or work on it and contribute to it for free.
Gluon's role is to add a layer that makes MXNet and CNTK easier to use, work with and program. Only the MXNet version was released now; but the CNTX version of Gluon is promised to come soon. Short introduction is shown at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxAYuw5QQ_8
Ease for AI DevelopmentIn any case, the competition to create more AI tools for developers, and make them easier to use. Demand of Artificial Intelligence in various industries, are reflected in 3 years scorecard
