Azure Updates: Azure Marketplace; OpenAI Service; Accessibility

Microsoft VP Anthony Joseph encouraged customers to accelerate AI with the Azure commercial marketplace. Microsoft has seen major increases in transactable AI offers published on its commercial marketplace. 

At the upcoming Build conference, the company plans to profile Pinecone’s initiative to build AI apps with vector databases as well as UiPath’s Business Automation Platform. The company is increasingly emphasizing a “try before you buy” model with its marketplace.

VP of Azure Cosmos DB Kirill Gavrylyuk looked at the way customers can begin their AI journey with Azure OpenAI Service and Cosmos DB. Cosmos DB in particular allows customers to build scalable apps, set up real-time apps, and offer a secure and available setup. Gavrylyuk encouraged customers to take part in the Developers AI Learning Hackathon, with the option to win up to $10,000 in prizes. 

Product marketing manager Haley Mendlin shared perspectives from Justin Fineberg, founder and CEO of Cassidy. Together with a colleague, Fineberg launched Cassidy to support accessibility for AI. The organization selected OpenAI Service as a way to boost accessibility, because of its capabilities for rapid scalability and building custom generative AI offerings.