Amazon’s play for AI dominance

In the fast-paced world of technology and artificial intelligence (AI), mega-cap companies are vying for the title of the top-performing stock in 2023. While Amazon (AMZN) has seen its shares rise significantly, it faces fierce competition from Meta Platforms and Nvidia, both of which are deeply entrenched in the AI landscape. 

All three companies share a common focus on AI, and their prospects for growth in this field seem promising. However, there are compelling reasons why Amazon might just be the best AI stock to consider right now.

OpenAI’s GPT-4, considered one of the most advanced large language models (LLMs), boasts a formidable 1.76 trillion parameters. Parameters are the variables that enable LLMs to process input data and generate output data, and a higher parameter count often translates to enhanced performance. 

Earlier this year, Amazon introduced its own LLM called Titan, though it’s not quite on par with GPT-4. Nevertheless, Amazon is showing unwavering commitment to AI development.

Recent reports indicate that Amazon is heavily investing in training a new LLM, codenamed “Olympus,” which is said to possess approximately 2 trillion parameters. While a higher parameter count doesn’t guarantee Olympus will outperform GPT-4, it’s a reasonable expectation that it will, at the very least, be a strong competitor to OpenAI’s offering.

Amazon’s unique advantage: AWS and olympus

Amazon’s edge in the AI race may lie in its cloud computing division, Amazon Web Services (AWS). AWS, a leader in cloud infrastructure, is strategically positioned to offer multiple LLMs as a service through its Amazon Bedrock platform. 

Several third-party providers, including AI21, Anthropic, Cohere, and Stability AI, already provide access to their LLMs on Bedrock. In addition, both Meta’s Llama 2 and Amazon’s Titan LLMs are available. With the introduction of Olympus, AWS’s appeal to customers could skyrocket.

Furthermore, Amazon can leverage Olympus across its various business segments. For instance, it could enhance its CodeWhisperer generative AI coding companion, which has the potential to transform customer experiences significantly. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy emphasized in a recent earnings call that generative AI applications are a focus for the company, and Olympus could play a pivotal role in these endeavors.

Amazon’s appeal as an AI stock extends beyond its AI initiatives. The company continues to diversify and expand into new markets. In a recent announcement, CEO Andy Jassy revealed plans to start selling cars online in the U.S. beginning in 2024, with Hyundai being the first brand on offer. 

In September, Amazon also introduced a new service called “Supply Chain by Amazon,” leveraging its extensive supply chain network to assist external customers. These strategic moves indicate Amazon’s commitment to exploring opportunities beyond its traditional e-commerce and cloud services domains.

Moreover, Amazon’s financial performance is on an upward trajectory, with Q3 profits more than tripling year over year. The company’s efforts to streamline its operations are paying off handsomely. While Nvidia has shown impressive earnings growth in its latest quarter, concerns about the sustainability of its performance arise as the supply-demand imbalance for its GPUs gets resolved.

The future of Amazon and AI

While it’s impossible to definitively declare Amazon as the best AI stock, there are compelling reasons to consider it a frontrunner in the AI race. The company’s aggressive pursuit of AI advancements, coupled with its strategic positioning within AWS, suggests a promising future. Furthermore, Amazon’s expansion into new markets and its impressive financial performance make it an attractive investment option.

It’s important to note that the AI landscape is constantly evolving, with other major players like OpenAI and Google actively developing advanced AI models. The emergence of GPT-5 and Google’s Gemini is on the horizon, making the competition fierce.

The future of the AI market remains uncertain, and no one can predict with absolute certainty which company will emerge as the ultimate winner. However, one thing is clear: Amazon is poised to profit significantly from the AI boom. Whether or not it becomes the best AI stock, Amazon’s journey in the world of technology and innovation is far from over, and the best may still be yet to come for this e-commerce and cloud services giant.

Source: https://www.cryptopolitan.com/amazons-play-for-ai-dominance/