Amazon Web Services (AWS), a leader in cloud computing, announced on Thursday its commitment to invest $230 million to support the development of generative AI applications for startups worldwide.
The company explained that this initiative will provide early-stage startups with cloud computing credits, along with mentorship and educational opportunities to enhance their use of AI and machine learning technologies.
This move comes amid increasing scrutiny on major tech companies by antitrust regulatory bodies, aiming to assess their impact on competition in the emerging AI market.
The credits provided to participating startups in the program will grant them access to AWS’s computing, storage, database services, and specialized AI chips.
It's worth noting that training generative AI models, such as ChatGPT, requires massive computing power, which quickly depletes the cash reserves of startups, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Earlier this year, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) opened an investigation into how major tech companies are investing in AI startups, requesting additional information from these companies, including Amazon Web Services.
Additionally, competition regulators in the European Union and the United Kingdom are also examining the ties between AI companies and their major tech partners in the U.S.