Aliyun has launched what it claims to be China’s first AI platform

Alibaba’s cloud computing division Aliyun has launched what it claims to be China’s first artificial intelligence cloud service.

The DT PAI platform has been built with a series of purpose-built algorithms and machine learning technologies designed to help users generate predictive intelligence insights. Aliyun said the service features “drag and drop” capabilities that let users easily connect different services and set parameters.

The company claims the platform is China’s first commercially available artificial intelligence platform.

“Our goal is to create a one-stop AI development, publishing and sharing platform through data calculations and data connections, all with the aim of using AI to drive innovation in all aspects of life,” said Xiao Wei, senior product expert, Aliyun.

“In the past, the field of artificial intelligence was only open to a very small number of qualified developers and required the use of specialised tools. Such an approach was prone to error and redundancy. Hoewver, DT PAI allows developers with little or no experience in the field to construct a data application from scratch in a much shorter period of time. What used to take days can be completed within minutes,” Wei added.

The platform is based on Aliyuns recently update big data cloud infrastructure and its Open Data Processing Service (ODPS).

Alibaba seems to be following IBM’s lead on when it comes to AI. Big Blue has been using Bluemix as a drag-and-drop platform for Watson, IBM’s cognitive compute (AI) as a service, pitching it as a more accessible development and delivery platform for its big data services.