July 15, 2023

8 Best AI Platforms You Must Check Today

Summary

Explore the transformative power of AI platforms in our comprehensive guide. Understand key technologies like Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Automation, and learn how they revolutionize the way we live and conduct business. This article also focuses on open-source AI platforms, their benefits, and the top options available today. A must-read for anyone interested in AI application development and the future of tech.

We live in a world where machines can analyze data, make complex calculations, learn and independently. This is no longer a scene from a Sci-Fi movie but our reality, thanks to Artificial Intelligence (AI). With AI technology's rapid advancements, it has become an essential tool in altering how we lead our lives and conduct business.

AI platforms are the supercharged tools driving this transformation. To put it simply, an AI platform is like an artist's studio for creating AI applications. It provides the framework and resources necessary to build these smart applications. That can include technologies like Machine Learning (ML), Natural Language Processing (NLP), and Automation.

Machine Learning is a part of AI that enables a system to learn from previous interactions or experiences. It then utilizes this knowledge for future decisions. This learning process often occurs without any explicit programming, allowing the system to improve its performance over time as it accumulates more data.

NLP is another integral element of artificial intelligence. It's like teaching your computer to comprehend human language. Whether asking your smartphone for weather updates or conversing with voice-enabled devices at home, NLP makes this interaction seamless. NLP is also behind the viral sensation ChatGPT, a chatbot trained to talk like a human following expertly crafted prompts.

Similarly, Cloud Infrastructure plays a pivotal role in AI platforms. It provides robust storage solutions and computing capabilities for AI applications to analyze large datasets and perform complex calculations within seconds. Most people could not host these applications on their own, making cloud infrastructure a must-have solution. Lastly, automation is the magic wand that makes repetitive tasks disappear.

For this article, we will focus on open-source AI platforms, starting with the benefits of such platforms. Artificial intelligence open source is designed to be used without any restrictions, allowing developers to customize and refine their applications. We will then look at the best options on the market today and how you can use them to create smarter applications.

The Benefits of Using AI Platforms

Efficiency is king nowadays, which is why AI platforms shine so brightly. They host applications that help us speed up tasks, make informed decisions, and deliver results around the clock. They outperform human capacity in several areas, bringing several benefits.

When it comes to automation, AI platforms are a game-changer. They take over repetitive jobs, freeing humans to focus on complex tasks requiring higher-order thinking. This change goes beyond mundane jobs like scheduling meetings or sorting emails. It's about automating entire processes to maximize resource utilization.

AI platforms also allow for personalization at a scale that's impossible for humans to achieve. You've likely seen AI at work when streaming services recommend movies you'd like or online retailers suggest products that interest you. It sifts through huge data sets in real-time to understand user preferences and deliver personalized experiences.

Moreover, the effective implementation of AI platforms significantly reduces production costs. Businesses can save time and money by automating processes and decreasing room for error. With cognitive technologies performing routine tasks, companies can reallocate their human workforce towards more value-added roles.

On the flip side are some challenges that could come with using AI platforms, such as data privacy concerns and initial setup costs. Yet, the increasing attention towards developing safe and ethical AI practices and declining tech costs keeps these issues in check.

The Best AI Platforms You Should Know About

As technology continues to evolve, more big players are adding their unique touches to the world of AI. Let's explore some of the best AI platforms known for their remarkable features and consumer-serving capabilities.

1. Microsoft Azure

Microsoft Azure AI is a comprehensive cloud computing service for building, testing, deploying, and managing applications and services through Microsoft-managed data centers. This platform offers plenty of beneficial features, helping both individuals and businesses streamline their processes using AI. Azure's uniqueness stems from its extensive array of complementary services, offering hundreds of native apps. From databases to networking to storage - all your needs can be met under one umbrella.

It also offers the Machine Learning Studio that simplifies machine learning for all. The intuitive UI makes building, deploying, and managing intelligent applications easier. With a drag-and-drop interface and built-in algorithms, you can create complex models quickly.

This platform is a great overall platform for anyone looking to start out with AI and is perfect for incorporating existing applications.

Pricing: Microsoft Azure operates with a pay-as-you-go model, starting from free access. The Standard Package costs $9.99 per ML studio workspace monthly plus $1 per studio experimentation hour. Additional costs may incur if you choose to deploy the ML model.

2. TensorFlow

The brainchild of Google Brain, TensorFlow is an open source AI and Machine Learning platform designed to ease the process of obtaining machine intelligence. TensorFlow's capabilities are vast and impressive, from voice/speech recognition used in devices like Google Home to Smart Reply in Gmail.

TensorFlow is supplemented with the best AI tools to build and deploy Machine Learning models effortlessly. It can work on various neural networks, transforming how we perceive things. Another great feature is the access to the community of developers. Everyone is sharing their resources and tips to help beginners better understand Machine Learning. You'll find plenty of tutorial videos and guides to help kick-start your AI journey.

This tool is best for programmers, data scientists, and developers looking to build in-depth Machine Learning models.

Pricing: TensorFlow is a completely free open source AI.

3. OpenAI

If there's one AI company that went viral in recent months, it's OpenAI. Founded by Elon Musk and Sam Altman, their main goal is to make Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) available to everyone.

Today, the "Open" part of their name causes quite a bit of controversy, as the company is far from open source. Nonetheless, they offer ground-breaking tools that can be used by laypeople and experts alike. They mainly focus on generative AI, a field of ML where AI can create its own content.

Starting from their GPT model, a next-generation conversational AI system, OpenAI has made significant contributions to the field of AI. ChatGPT-4 is now out, along with DALL-E-2, a visual AI system powered by deep learning for generating images from text descriptions. OpenAI's defining feature is its API. With this, they allow developers to access their sophisticated AI services, which can be used to power applications and websites. Countless wrapped applications were made in response to this technology.

Pricing: Accessing OpenAI comes at varying costs depending on the API calls made by users. They follow a pay-as-you-go token structure where pricing can range anywhere from $0.03/1K tokens to $0.12/1K tokens, depending on the model.

4. Google AI Platform

The giant Google refuses to be left behind in the field of AI. Their Google AI platform is a unified tool that leverages all their AI capabilities and helps developers to manage the full lifecycle of machine learning models. You'll also have access to TensorFlow and AutoML for training your own models.

Similarly, its machine learning engine equips users with powerful computers running on Keras, PyTorch, TPUs, and TFX tools. From SMEs aiming for cost-effective solutions in AI modeling to large enterprises striving for seamless scalability - the Google AI platform is an excellent fit for all.

Pricing: Just like Microsoft Azure, Google also uses a Pay-As-You-Go model where pricing depends on resources used rather than flat rates. This flexible model caters well to businesses with varying needs or budgets.

5. Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Moving to another prominent figure in the cloud computing world, Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers machine learning services and supporting cloud infrastructure that you can use to develop intelligent applications.

With AWS, developers get a set of AI services that provide cloud-native machine learning and deep learning technologies to address various needs. It makes broad-scale predictions possible, enables automation, and enhances apps with analysis, human-like speech, and personalized recommendations.

The uniqueness lies in its user-friendly platform that eliminates the need for trade-offs often required by other platforms. It is powered by its SageMaker feature, which lets you quickly build, train and deploy machine learning models at scale; or via accessing APIs with endless capabilities.

Pricing: Similar to most leading platforms on this list, AWS, too, uses a flexible pricing model, though they do have a free plan as well.

6. NVIDIA Deep Learning AI Software

When discussing AI, it is impossible to ignore the achievements of NVIDIA, especially in providing powerful deep learning software. A prominent name in GPU-accelerated computing, NVIDIA's deep learning AI products offer unique utilities for developers, data scientists, and researchers alike.

NVIDIA's deep learning platform includes a comprehensive set of software ranging from optimized deep learning frameworks and libraries to purpose-built developer SDKs and management tools for tasks such as data preparation, model exploration, training, and validation through deployment.

Pricing: The cost varies per specific product or solution under the Deep Learning AI software portfolio. You can request a quote on the product page.

7. H20 AI Cloud

H2O AI Cloud is another popular open source AI platform providing ML capabilities, particularly predictive analytics. H2O.ai offers an end-to-end platform for managing and deploying AI models through its cloud offering.

This platform provides exciting features, but its central promise is to be the fastest and most accurate AI system. Another great thing about this company is its dedication to ethical AI and responsible machine learning, which is something that more companies should strive for.

Regarding who can use this platform, it is fairly accessible. With an easy-to-use interface and lessons in Machine Learning, training on H2O Driverless AI is feasible for anyone interested. With support for Python, Scala, and R languages, along with many other utilities like its own ML algorithm library, it further aids data scientists and ML practitioners with increased productivity and faster enterprise adoption.

Pricing: As a true open-source platform, H2O AI Cloud is free. You can build and even use their API and platform without any cost. However, for enterprise-level usage, fees may apply.

8. Rainbird

Rainbird AI is a unique platform particularly designed to support decision automation in businesses. It combines cognitive reasoning with human-like judgment. It integrates with existing systems and feeds on structured and unstructured data inputs to deliver scalable, auditable, and efficient automated decision-making.

Rainbird is helpful for businesses that require a high degree of interpretive decision-making, which has traditionally been handled manually by experts in the field. With Rainbird, organizations can automate these decisions while retaining control over the logic used to make those decisions.

It uses a graphical interface to model relationships between concepts, much like creating a family tree. Once you've defined the laws governing your concept or problem set, you can start consulting your model with any web-based application via Rainbird's API.

Pricing: The pricing details are tailored depending on individual business requirements, but it is a subscription service.

Categories of AI Platforms

Artificial Intelligence platforms come in many shapes and sizes. Each is designed to cater to specific fields, so knowing what type of platform your business requires is crucial. Here are some frequently encountered categories:

Programming AI platforms: Geared toward programmers, these platforms automate redundant coding tasks alongside offering tools for testing and improving code efficiency.
Writing AI platforms: A fantastic aid for authors, bloggers, and content creators. NLP helps with content generation, grammar checks, idea brainstorming, and more.
Photo and Video Editing AI platforms: These sophisticated tools can handle image enhancements, color correction, video trimming & formatting. Advanced features could also include voice-over generation or adding special effects.
Boosting Productivity AI platforms: Make your workflow smarter by automating routine jobs or managing your calendar.
Digital Marketing AI platforms: Tailored for marketers who want to leverage the power of AI for crafting marketing strategies - SEO optimization, targeting audiences more effectively, analyzing data trends, etc.

Making the Most of AI Platforms

In conclusion, a diverse range of Artificial Intelligence Platforms can lead to significant benefits if utilized properly. No matter your field or requirements, there's likely an efficient system waiting just around the corner.

Having touched upon an overview of the best AI tools available, you are now ready to dive deeper into this fascinating world. The best way to get started is to brush up on your knowledge of the technology to make the most out of these powerful platforms. We invite you to explore Maven's array of courses focused on Artificial Intelligence applications across different domains:

"Midjourney for Creatives by Nick St. Pierre" if you want to leverage technology in creating art.
"Prompt Engineering for LLMs by Elvis Saravia" to master communicating with robots.
"Generative AI Masterclass" offered by Jeremy Kirshbaum and Lev Gorelov provides an unparalleled deep-dive into the potentialities of Generative Artificial Intelligence.