Microsoft Corp announced on Monday that it is expanding access to software from OpenAI, a startup that the company is backing. OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot has captivated Silicon Valley, and Microsoft’s move will allow more customers to use the technology.
Expanding Access to Azure OpenAI Service
The Azure OpenAI Service, which was previously only available to preview customers, is now generally available. The move is expected to lead to a significant increase in usage of the technology.
Microsoft’s decision to expand access to the Azure OpenAI Service will allow more companies to take advantage of the powerful capabilities of OpenAI’s technology.
Potential Increase in Investment
The news of expanding access to the Azure OpenAI Service comes as Microsoft is also looking at increasing its $1 billion investment in OpenAI. Two people familiar with the matter previously told Reuters that Microsoft has been considering adding to its investment.
The news site Semafor reported earlier this month that Microsoft might invest $10 billion in OpenAI, however, Microsoft has not commented on the potential deal.
The Rise of ChatGPT
Public interest in OpenAI surged following the November release of ChatGPT, a text-based chatbot that can draft prose, poetry, or even computer code on command. ChatGPT is powered by generative artificial intelligence, which conjures new content after training on vast amounts of data. Microsoft is now allowing more customers to apply to use this technology.
ChatGPT will also soon be available via Microsoft’s cloud, according to a blog post. Microsoft is vetting customers’ applications to mitigate potential abuse of the software and to screen for harmful content users might input or the tech might produce.
The Business Potential of Generative AI
The business potential of generative AI has garnered massive venture-capital investment in startups producing it, at a time funding has otherwise dried up. Already, some companies have used the tech to create marketing content or demonstrate how it could negotiate a cable bill. Microsoft has reported that CarMax, KPMG, and other companies are already using its Azure OpenAI service.