New Delhi, Jun 14 (KNN) Amazon Web Services (AWS), a leading cloud computing provider, has announced a USD 230 million investment initiative aimed at fostering the development of generative artificial intelligence (AI) applications by startups globally.

The program will offer early-stage companies AWS cloud computing credits, along with mentorship and educational resources to enhance their utilisation of AI and machine learning technologies.

Under the initiative, participating startups will gain access to AWS's comprehensive suite of services, including computing, storage, databases, and specialised AI chip offerings through the allocated credits.

This support comes at a critical time, as the training of generative AI models—the backbone of applications like ChatGPT—demands substantial computing power, often straining the limited financial resources of emerging companies.

The announcement arrives amid growing regulatory scrutiny of major technology firms' involvement in the burgeoning AI sector.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission launched an inquiry into how prominent tech companies are investing in AI startups, requesting detailed information from several entities, including AWS.

Similarly, competition authorities in the European Union and the United Kingdom are examining partnerships between AI firms and their large U.S. technology collaborators, raising questions about potential anti-competitive practices.

This development underscores the complex interplay between technological advancement, corporate strategy, and regulatory oversight in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.

(KNN Bureau)