Amazon Expands Free Credits Program for Startups Using AI Models, Offers Access to Anthropic and More

John Lopez, Tech Times 02 April 2024, 11:04 am

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has recently expanded its free credits program for startups, aiming to cover the costs associated with using major AI models, the company told Reuters.

This expansion is part of AWS's strategy to enhance the market share of its AI platform, Bedrock. Startups can now utilize their cloud credits to access models from various providers, including Anthropic, Meta, Mistral AI, and Cohere.

Amazon to Support Startups by Offering Free AI Model Credits

Howard Wright, the vice president and global head of startups at AWS, described this move as a gesture to support the startup ecosystem and encourage them to opt for AWS as their primary choice. He emphasized the importance of providing a wide range of choices and ensuring security for startups.

The expansion comes on the heels of Amazon's additional $2.75 billion investment in Anthropic, now totaling $4 billion. Anthropic, now one of the most sought-after models on Bedrock, will utilize AWS as its primary cloud provider. This partnership entails the use of Trainium and Inferentia chips to build and train models. The long-term commitment ensures AWS customers worldwide access to future generations of Anthropic's foundation models on Amazon Bedrock.

Wright highlighted that Amazon's free credits would contribute to the revenue of Anthropic, reflecting the company's commitment to ecosystem building. Over the past decade, AWS has offered more than $6 billion in credits to startups, demonstrating its dedication to supporting emerging businesses.

Amazon Expands Free Credits Program for Startups Using AI Models, Offers Access to Anthropic and More

(Photo : PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)

The logo of Amazon Web Services AWS is seen on the opening day of the Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) audiovisual and systems integration exhibition in Barcelona on January 31, 2023.

AWS Is Offering $500,000 in Credits

In collaboration with Y Combinator, AWS is offering $500,000 in credits for the latest cohort, enabling startups to access AI models and Amazon's chips. This initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden associated with AI usage, which could accumulate for startups based on their usage.

Reuters tells us that other major cloud provider like Microsoft Azure also provides credits applicable to OpenAI's models, while Google offers credits for over 130 models on Vertex AI. However, such investments in AI startups have attracted regulatory scrutiny, with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) opening inquiries into companies like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon regarding their investments in Anthropic.

Furthermore, AWS and NVIDIA recently announced the introduction of the new NVIDIA Blackwell GPU platform on AWS, offering advanced infrastructure for generative AI capabilities.

Amazon's expansion of its free credits program shows its commitment to assisting AI companies and driving innovation in the sector. AWS intends to consolidate its position as a leading provider of AI solutions in the cloud computing market by forming collaborations with major AI providers and investing in cutting-edge technologies.

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