Microsoft Azure & OpenAI Rivalry: Microsoft Debuts Advanced Databricks Amidst AI Market Shake-Up

Microsoft Corp MSFT looks to start selling a new version of Databricks software that helps customers make AI apps for their businesses.

Microsoft would sell the software through its Azure cloud-server unit, the Information reports.

Also Read: Amazon Bedrock Challenges Google and Microsoft: Thousands Flock to Test its Cutting-Edge AI Service

Databricks helps companies make AI models from scratch or repurpose open-source models as an option to licensing OpenAI's proprietary ones.

In July, Microsoft shared an aggressive spending plan to meet demand for its AI services.

The software maker divulged plans to charge at least 53% - 83% more to access new artificial intelligence features in its widely used Microsoft 365 service.

CEO Satya Nadella defended the pricing decision as part of a generational technological shift.

The company has started incorporating AI functionality across its products like Azure, Microsoft 365, GitHub, and several developer tools.

Also this week, OpenAI snapped the team at Global Illumination that leveraged AI to build creative tools, infrastructure, and digital experiences. 

OpenAI triggered an AI war among companies courtesy of its chatbot ChatGPT, adept at answering questions and writing essays and poems, and image generator Dall-E 2.

Price Actions: MSFT shares traded lower by 1.17% at $313.17 premarket on the last check Friday.