Amazon is gearing up to launch an advanced AI chatbot, codenamed “Metis,” in a move to compete directly with OpenAI’s ChatGPT. This development comes as part of a confidential project revealed by Business Insider. Metis, named after the Greek goddess of wisdom, will be accessible via a web browser, much like its existing AI counterparts.
Powered by Olympus: Amazon’s internal AI model
The new AI service, Metis, is built on an internal Amazon AI model called Olympus. According to insiders, Olympus is an enhanced version of Amazon’s publicly available Titan model. At its core, Metis aims to deliver both text and image-based responses in an intelligent, conversational manner. It is designed to share links to its sources, suggest follow-up queries, and even generate images, according to an internal document.
One of the key features of Metis is its use of retrieval-augmented generation (RAG). This AI technique enables Metis to pull information beyond the initial training data of the Olympus model. The objective is to provide more current responses. For instance, Metis will be able to share the latest stock prices, a capability not always available in non-RAG AI chatbots.
Beyond its basic functionalities, Metis is expected to function as an AI agent. This means it could automate and perform complex tasks, such as creating vacation itineraries, turning on smart home devices, or booking flights. This versatility broadens the potential applications of Metis, setting it up as a multi-functional assistant.
Amazon’s competitive landscape
Amazon’s entry into the AI-assistant market pits it against established rivals like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI, which have been developing their AI technologies for several years. Amazon’s previous AI endeavors, including the Titan model and the Amazon Q chatbot, have faced challenges and mixed reviews. Additionally, Amazon’s AI hardware, Trainium and Inferentia, has encountered issues with demand and performance.
In a bid to improve its AI capabilities, Amazon has been instructing employees to scrape open-source data from GitHub to accelerate the training process for its models.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has underscored the significance of AI projects across the company. He anticipates that Amazon’s AI initiatives could generate substantial revenue, projecting “tens of billions of dollars” in sales over the next few years. However, consumer AI assistants have been a notable gap in Amazon’s portfolio. An internal document from last year highlighted the absence of a product comparable to ChatGPT.
Jassy is personally involved in the Metis project, having recently reviewed its progress. The project is currently undergoing internal testing and is part of Amazon’s Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) team, led by Rohit Prasad. Vishal Sharma, the vice president of AGI, oversees Project Metis.
Integration with Alexa
Metis draws on resources and personnel from Amazon’s Alexa team. Employees from the Alexa AI team have transitioned to work on Metis, and the technology incorporates elements from an upgraded version of Alexa, known internally as “Remarkable Alexa.” Earlier this year, reports surfaced about Amazon’s plans to launch a new, subscription-based Alexa service powered by this advanced technology.
Despite the ambitious scope of Metis, there are concerns within the team about Amazon’s timing in the AI chatbot market. The tentative launch date for Metis is set for September, coinciding with Amazon’s major Alexa event. However, some team members feel Amazon is already lagging behind its competitors.
“Technically it will work, I guess, but the question is if it’s already too late,” one insider remarked. “We’re playing chase.”
As Amazon prepares to unveil Metis, the tech giant is making a bold play to catch up in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. Whether Metis will emerge as a significant contender remains to be seen, but the project underscores Amazon’s commitment to advancing its AI capabilities and entering the competitive AI chatbot arena.
