Microsoft Announces New Series of Azure Services for Blockchain, AI, and IoT

Microsoft has just released an official announcement detailing new developments on their Azure cloud services. The tech giant is focusing on AI, mixed reality, blockchain, and the Internet-of-Things (IoT) for its hybrid cloud and edge computing. With 95 percent of Fortune 500 customers running on Azure, Microsoft is rolling out new developments which will tap into emerging technologies. AI and blockchain are the two leading areas of interest going forward for the company.

Developments in AI, Blockchain, and More

One of the Azure technologies which was unveiled will expand on Microsoft’s established use of AI, according to its announcement. The Azure Cognitive Services will allow applications to see, hear, respond, translate, reason and more. With cognitive search capabilities, the Azure search will apply algorithms to provide insights and recommendations for more knowledge-rich experiences. Aside from AI, Azure will also be doubling down on its blockchain investments. Last year, Microsoft unveiled its Azure Blockchain Workbench. It provides blockchain developers with a simple UI to model their applications. However, Microsoft is now expanding this effort with its Azure Blockchain Service (ABS). The Azure Blockchain Service simplifies the formation, management, and governance of blockchain networks. With built-in governance, teams can now more easily onboard new members, set permissions, and authenticate identities. Even more exciting, J.P. Morgan’s Ethereum platform, Quorum, is the first ledger now available on the ABS. Microsoft and J.P. Morgan customers can now scale its blockchain in the Azure cloud. Other areas outlined in the announcement include progress in machine learning and the Internet-of-Things (called ‘Intelligent Edge’).

Further Developments

In light of these announcements, Microsoft will be bringing together over 6,000 developers in Seattle next week for a conference. The topic will be on cloud computing, blockchain, and AI. Although Microsoft’s next generation of services looks promising, the company said that even more will be showcased next week at their Build conference. Needless to say, Microsoft’s commitment to blockchain, AI, and other emerging technologies should certainly instill hope in investors. We are certainly on the precipice of the next stage in our technological evolution. Do you believe blockchain and AI will be two of the most fundamental technologies set to revolutionize cloud computing in the next few years? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.