Amazon Appoints AI Expert Andrew Ng To Board
Amazon on Thursday said it has added Andrew Ng, a prominent computer scientist known for his leadership in artificial intelligence projects at Alphabet's Google and China's Baidu, to its board of directors.
Ng's appointment comes amidst escalating competition among major tech companies to bolster their AI offerings and attract more users to their GenAI products. The move shows Amazon's strategic focus on AI technology, particularly in its cloud computing and voice assistant divisions.
With Microsoft's early pact with OpenAI and the integration of its technology into Azure, Amazon's cloud unit faces increasing pressure in the competitive landscape. Similarly, the race between Amazon's Alexa voice assistant and genAI chat tools from OpenAI and Google highlights the importance of staying innovative and competitive in the rapidly evolving AI market.
CEO Andy Jassy, in a letter to shareholders on Thursday, stressed the company's commitment to lowering costs while improving customer cloud spends and strengthening its advertising business. Despite facing macroeconomic challenges such as inflation and high interest rates, Amazon aims to optimise its operations and remain resilient in the face of market dynamics.
The appointment of Ng, who also serves as an adjunct professor at Stanford University and runs AI venture studios and learning firms, signals Amazon's continued investment in AI expertise and its dedication to staying at the forefront of technological advancements. Ng's extensive experience in leading AI projects and his background in academia and entrepreneurship align closely with Amazon's strategic priorities.
Amazon has recently undergone job cuts across various divisions, including Amazon Web Services, Prime Video service, healthcare business, and the Alexa unit. These layoffs, extending over the past two years into 2024, suggest a broader restructuring initiative aimed at streamlining operations and reallocating resources to key growth areas, such as AI.
