According to a new report from The Information, Microsoft is now focusing on expanding its internal focus on low-cost artificial intelligence technology that requires minimal computational power and financial resources. The company is investing in developing efficient and cost-effective models.
This initiative included forming a new team called GenAI to build what the company calls “small language models.” The team is focusing on developing conversational AI models that require much fewer computational resources compared to current technology.
The small language models aim to provide users with the ability to converse similar to large language models like GPT, while requiring less hardware resources.
This can enable Microsoft’s AI products and services to reduce costs and environmental impact to a lesser extent compared to externally developed alternatives.
It is expected that Microsoft’s Vice President, Misha Belinko, will lead the team consisting of researchers converted from the Microsoft Research group, and they may be integrated into the Azure cloud unit.
This step indicates Microsoft’s goal to facilitate the availability of these AI solutions on a broad scale through its cloud platform.
Microsoft has heavily relied on OpenAI in the past for advancements in artificial intelligence, using technologies like the GPT-4 language model in Bing Chat and the Dall-E 3 image generator in Bing Image Creator.
The GenAI team aims to develop AI that exceeds the capabilities of models provided by companies like OpenAI, and make it accessible to individuals and small businesses.
The formation of the GenAI Generative AI team indicates a potential shift towards a high degree of independence in AI development.
Microsoft’s commitment to integrating AI is evident through the release of Copilot Pro. This subscription costs $20 per month and provides access to AI-powered Office features, such as OpenAI’s GPT-4 Turbo and advanced language models.
Copilot for Microsoft 365 caters to enterprise clients, helping them leverage AI capabilities for businesses.
Microsoft has released Copilot apps for Android and iOS mobile devices to reach a wider audience.
This leads to expanding the current offering of the free basic Copilot version and paid Copilot Pro version with AI chatbot, providing users with a variety of options based on their needs and budget.
By relying on external AI development, costs increase and our ability to control the technology itself diminishes.
Microsoft aims to develop low-cost, small-scale AI technology, opening up new horizons for the company to offer its solutions, reducing its reliance on foreign companies.
