Free AI tools for startups: Amazon offers credits for startups to use top AI models including Anthropic

Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced on Tuesday the expansion of its free credits program to encompass the expenses associated with utilizing major AI models in a strategic move aimed at fortifying its foothold in the startup ecosystem. The news comes fresh off the heels of Amazon’s $2.75 billion investment in Anthropic, marking its most substantial venture capital infusion to date.

Under the expanded program, AWS now permits its cloud credits to encompass the usage of models from various providers, including Anthropic, Meta, Mistral AI, and Cohere, Amazon told Reuters in an interview. This maneuver underscores Amazon’s ambition to amplify the market share of its AI platform Bedrock and allure startup clientele.

Howard Wright, Vice President and Global Head of Startups at AWS, expressed the company’s vision: “This is another gift that we’re making back to the startup ecosystem, in exchange for what we hope is startups continue to choose AWS as their first stop.” The move is emblematic of Amazon’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and empowering startups to realize their full potential.

The announcement follows Amazon’s recent completion of a $4 billion investment in Anthropic through convertible notes. As per the agreement, Anthropic will leverage AWS as its primary cloud provider, leveraging Trainium and Inferentia chips to construct and train its models.

Wright added that Amazon’s provision of free credits will bolster Anthropic’s revenue stream, given its status as one of the most sought-after models on Bedrock. “That’s part of the ecosystem building. We are unapologetic about that,” he remarked, underscoring AWS’s commitment to furnishing startups with a diverse array of options and robust security measures.

With the Free Artificial Intelligence Services on AWS, users can streamline their tasks using AI without needing any expertise in machine learning, as per Amazon’s announcement.

Over the past decade, Amazon has disbursed over $6 billion in credits to startups, amplifying its allure within the burgeoning startup landscape. In a collaborative effort with Y Combinator, AWS is extending $500,000 in credits to the latest cohort launched in January, empowering startups to harness AI models and Amazon’s cutting-edge chips. The potentially exorbitant costs associated with AI utilization, contingent on usage metrics, can pose a considerable barrier for startups.

However, Amazon is not the sole major cloud provider vying for the patronage of AI startups through free credit incentives. Microsoft Azure extends credits applicable to OpenAI’s models, while Google’s cloud credit encompasses over 130 models on Vertex AI.

Nevertheless, the burgeoning investments of tech giants in AI startups have piqued regulatory scrutiny. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has initiated an inquiry into Microsoft’s support of OpenAI, alongside Google and Amazon’s investment in Anthropic, underscoring the regulatory complexities inherent in such ventures.

The surge in interest surrounding generative AI, fueled by the success of platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, has propelled Anthropic into the spotlight. With backing from notable investors and a seasoned leadership team, including former OpenAI executives, Anthropic is poised to make significant strides in shaping the future of AI.

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