Amazon adds AI visionary Andrew Ng to its board of directors

Amazon announced the appointment of Andrew Ng, a prominent figure in artificial intelligence, to its board of directors. Ng, currently a managing director at the AI Fund based in Palo Alto, California, will fill the seat previously held by Judy McGrath, former CEO of MTV.

Ng's expertise in AI stems from his leadership roles at companies like Baidu and Google, where his teams made significant advancements, such as teaching a computer system to identify cats in YouTube videos autonomously. His AI Fund, established in 2017, focuses on investing in startups dedicated to artificial intelligence development.

Amazon's move to bring Ng onto its board reflects the escalating competition in the AI space among both startups and tech giants. This decision aligns with Amazon's substantial investments in generative AI technology. The company recently invested $4 billion in Anthropic, a San Francisco-based startup collaborating with Amazon to create foundational models for generative AI.

In addition to its investments, Amazon has introduced innovative AI-driven products like Q, a chatbot for businesses, and Rufus, a generative AI-powered shopping assistant. CEO Andy Jassy, in the company's annual shareholder letter, hinted at the significance of generative AI for Amazon's future, likening it to the transformative impact of cloud computing and the internet.

Despite these advancements, Amazon faced challenges with its Just Walk Out technology, prompting its removal from Amazon Fresh stores in the U.S. following customer feedback. The company plans to replace this technology with smart carts that offer similar checkout-free experiences while providing real-time spending updates.