Amazon Web Services’ biggest event of the year kicked off Monday in Las Vegas by announcing a new tool for developers to build mixed reality apps, a cloud-based media suite offering and an agreement from Intuit to use AWS as its main artificial intelligence platform.
However, most of the heavy lifting at AWS’ sixth annual re:Invent — including more announcements of new cloud-based tools and speeches from big companies touting their AWS usage — will come toward the later end of the week. That includes an expected announcement on a new language translation tool and an expanded partnership between AED and health IT company Cerner.
AWS Chief Andy Jassy delivers his keynote Wednesday. Amazon CTO Werner Vogels follows on Thursday, where he’s supposed focus on data and serverless technology.
Here’s a quick look at some of today’s news from the conferecen:
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— AWS Sumerian:
Touted by AWS as the “fastest and easiest way to create VR, AR and 3D experiences,” Sumerica is a new platform for developers to build and host virtual reality, augmented reality and 3D apps. It not only allows AWS to move into the world of augmented and virtual reality, but is intended to the company compete with Google and Microsoft in the market known as mixed reality.
More details here.
— AWS Elemental Media Services:
Made up of five integrated services, AWS’ cloud-based media suite offering is intended will help the company build, service and monetise video streams. Amazon says it will offer a lean on-demand, pay-as-you-go approach for video processing and storage capacity.
More details here.
— Intuit and AI:
Intuit has selected AWS’ cloud as its artificial intelligence and machine learning platform. Amazon says Intuit “expanded its use of AWS to further expedite deployment of its artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities at scale for its customers. In addition, Intuit will run its company wide data lake on AWS.”
More details here.