Amazon Initiative Offers Free AI Tools to Public Sector Orgs

Amazon Web Services is launching a $50 million fund that will give public sector organizations a chance to tap into its portfolio of cloud-based AI tools.

The AWS Worldwide Public Sector Generative AI Impact Initiative launched late last month and will last until June 30, 2026, Amazon announced recently. Through it, public sector organizations will receive free access to generative AI solutions running on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud.

"Across the public sector, leaders are seeking to leverage generative AI to become more efficient and agile. However, public sector organizations face several challenges such as optimizing resources, adapting to changing needs, improving patient care, personalizing the education experience, and strengthening security," AWS said.

"To respond to these challenges, AWS is committed to helping public sector organizations unlock the potential of generative AI and other cloud-based technologies to positively impact society."

Participants will get free access to AI and infrastructure tools like:

  • Amazon Bedrock: Amazon's platform for building generative AI applications.
  • Amazon Q: Amazon's coding and business-focused chatbot.
  • Amazon SageMaker: Amazon's tool for building machine learning models.
  • AWS HealthScribe: A tool for generating clinical notes directly from doctor-patient conversations.
  • AWS Trainium: Amazon's in-house machine learning chip.
  • AWS Inferentia: Hardware accelerators that speed up deep learning processing within the AWS Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2).

The free access will come in the form of promotional credits. Training resources, consulting and support will also be offered.

To sign up and find out more about the program, visit the AWS site.

About the Author

Becky Nagel serves as vice president of AI for 1105 Media specializing in developing media, events and training for companies around AI and generative AI technology. She also regularly writes and reports on AI news, and is the founding editor of PureAI.com. She's the author of "ChatGPT Prompt 101 Guide for Business Users" and other popular AI resources with a real-world business perspective. She regularly speaks, writes and develops content around AI, generative AI and other business tech. Find her on X/Twitter @beckynagel.

Featured

  • Abstract geometric pattern with interconnected nodes and lines

    Microsoft 365 Copilot Updates Offer Expanded AI Capabilities, Collaboration Tools

    Microsoft has announced updates to its Microsoft 365 Copilot AI assistant, including expanded AI capabilities in individual apps, the ability to create autonomous agents, and a new AI-powered collaboration workspace.

  • An open book with text transforming into smooth lines represents reading ease

    Fluency Innovator Grants to Award Free Subscriptions to WordFlight Literacy Intervention Solution

    The call for applications is now open for Foundations in Learning's Fall 2024 Fluency Innovator Grants program. Teachers and administrators from schools and districts serving grades 3-8 may apply to receive a free subscription to WordFlight, a literacy assessment and intervention solution for students with deficits in reading fluency and comprehension, for the Fall 2024 semester.

  • AI-themed background with sparse circuit lines and minimal geometric shapes

    Microsoft to Introduce AI Agent Building Tools in Copilot Studio

    In November, Microsoft plans to roll out a public preview of a new feature within Copilot Studio, allowing users to create autonomous AI "agents" designed to handle routine tasks.

  • landscape photo with an AI rubber stamp on top

    California AI Watermarking Bill Supported by OpenAI

    OpenAI, creator of ChatGPT, is backing a California bill that would require tech companies to label AI-generated content in the form of a digital "watermark." The proposed legislation, known as the "California Digital Content Provenance Standards" (AB 3211), aims to ensure transparency in digital media by identifying content created through artificial intelligence. This requirement would apply to a broad range of AI-generated material, from harmless memes to deepfakes that could be used to spread misinformation about political candidates.